In this section you will find various resources for maternity care, which are available to view and download.
NHS Lothian Leaflets
Your Pregnancy Test is Positive – What next?
This guide will help you understand the next steps you need to take after your pregnancy test is positive.
Pregnancy Booking Pack
This leaflet explains what to expect at your first midwife appointment
and provides additional information that you may find useful.
Induction of labour: Useful information
Find out what you want to know about induction of labour in NHS Lothian. When you are offered an induction of labour, your midwife will be happy to discuss your options and will give you this leaflet.
Newborn pulse oximetry screening test for babies born in the HOSPITAL
Babies born in NHS Lothian will have a routine pulse oximetry test within the first 24 hours after birth. This leaflet provides information for parents whose babies born in the hospital.
Newborn pulse oximetry screening test for babies born in the at HOME
Babies born in NHS Lothian will have a routine pulse oximetry test within the first 24 hours after birth. This leaflet provides information for parents whose babies born at home.
Your Health Visiting Service
This leaflet is a guide to the services we provide and the support you can expect from us.
General Data Protection Regulation
Subject Access Request Form
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) gives people the right to know what personal information an organisation has about them.
Non-NHS Lothian Leaflets
Ready, Steady, Baby (including translations)
This is a wonderful resource to guide you through the various stages of pregnancy to tell you all you need to know to care for yourself and your growing baby. It is full of useful information about pregnancy, labour and birth.
All You Need to Know about Breastfeeding (including translations)
This booklet aims to help pregnant women, new mums and their families make decisions about how they will feed their baby.
Stopping Smoking When You’re Pregnant
This leaflet made by Public Health provides a guide on quitting smoking and more information about your nearest Quit Your Way service.
You’re pregnant! Scans and tests (including translations)
This booklet explains the screening and diagnostic tests you can have in pregnancy.
Your choice – Where to have your FIRST baby
This information is for healthy women having their first baby. This booklet should be used as part of a comprehensive personalised discussion with your midwife.
Your choice – Where to have your baby
This information is for healthy women who have had
a baby before. This booklet should be used as part of a comprehensive personalised discussion with your midwife.
Preventing rhesus disease in your baby
The purpose of this leaflet is to describe why you may be advised to have anti-D injections during your pregnancy and after your baby’s birth.
Your basic birth rights (including translations)
This booklet provides information for understanding basic birth rights in maternity care.
Safer Sleep for Babies
The information in this booklet about safer sleep has saved many babies’ lives. It is important that all parents and anyone involved in the care of a baby are aware of this advice.
How to keep your baby safe
This leaflet provides practical advice and tips for safe, positive ways to
hold and care for your baby.
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists produces patient information resources which are designed for service users and others involved in their care.
Videos
More to come …
Clinical Guidelines
Clinical guidelines are developed to assist healthcare practitioners and patients when making decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. They are based on the best available evidence and an assessment of the benefits and harms of various care options. Most clinical guidelines are issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)
Clinical guidelines can help you to:
- understand what good care or support looks like, so that you can feel confident in the care or support you are receiving
- ask questions about your care or support based on what you have a right to expect
- understand your choices and take part in decisions about your care
- play a part in improving your own health and wellbeing.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) uses the best available evidence to develop recommendations that guide decisions in health, public health and social care.
Due to the fact that the devolved nations in the UK have their own NHS systems, each nation decides on whether and how to implement the NICE guideline in keeping with each nation’s priorities and NHS infrastructure. NICE’s guidelines do not apply automatically in Scotland but most recommendations are followed.
Products – Pregnancy | Topic | NICE
Overview | Antenatal care | Guidance | NICE
Overview | Twin and triplet pregnancy | Guidance | NICE
Overview | Maternal and child nutrition | Guidance | NICE
Overview | Inducing labour | Guidance | NICE
Overview | Intrapartum care | Guidance | NICE
Overview | Fetal monitoring in labour | Guidance | NICE
Overview | Caesarean birth | Guidance | NICE
Overview | Postnatal care | Guidance | NICE Overview | Division of ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) for breastfeeding | Guidance | NICE
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
The Royal College’s Green-top Guidelines provide systematically developed recommendations which assist clinicians and patients in making decisions about appropriate treatment for specific conditions.
