SHIP Maternity Referral is an NHS service providing a single point of access for ALL maternity referrals in the Portsmouth, Andover, Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton and Isle of Wight areas. The aim is to make sure you have access to the right care from day one. SHIP Maternity Referral will triage your referral based on the information you provide and the hospital will contact you to start your antenatal care.

Self-refer your pregnancy to SHIP Maternity Referral

The more you know about your pregnancy and your options, the more you are likely to feel in control. The information given here is based on The Pregnancy Book, which your midwife should give you at your first appointment.   

Before you are Pregnant

All about conception and getting pregnant    Thinking about the next baby?

Your Pregnancy and Labour

How the baby develops

0-8 weeks pregnant  9-12 weeks pregnant

13-16 weeks pregnant  17-20 weeks pregnant

21-24 weeks pregnant  25-28 weeks pregnant

29-32 weeks pregnant  33-36 weeks pregnant

37-40 weeks pregnant  40+ weeks pregnant

 Your health in pregnancy

Common health problems

Antenatal care and classes

Choosing where to have your baby

Labour and birth

When pregnancy goes wrong

You and Your Baby

What you will need for your baby?

Your life after the birth

The first days with your baby

The first weeks with your baby

Feeding your baby 

Feelings and relationships

Information for dads

Maternity leave and employment rights

Rights and benefits

Make some decisions

If you have a long-term condition (such as diabetes or high blood pressure)

Some vaccines, such as the inactivated seasonal flu vaccine and the whooping cough vaccine, are recommended during pregnancy to protect the health of you and your baby. An inactivated vaccine does not contain a live version of the virus it is protecting against.

Some vaccines, such as the tetanus vaccine, are perfectly safe to have during pregnancy if necessary.

But it does depend on the type of vaccination. For example, the MMR and yellow fever vaccines have potential risks, and you need to discuss these with your midwife or doctor before deciding whether to have the vaccine.

Click for NHS Vaccinations in pregnancy here