Need to consider your pregnancy options?
If you are pregnant and worried, you are not alone, we are here to help.
We are a holistic service based at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals for women stressed by an unwanted pregnancy who wish to discuss their options.
We pride ourselves on providing high quality care before, during and after treatment and make sure that you have enough support to help you to make the decision that is best for you.
We will support you every step of the way.
Please see Termination of Pregnancy (Abortion) Service for more information.
Self-referral service for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals ( Includes Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley and South Ribble Hospital)
As soon as you find out you are pregnant you have the option to book your maternity care directly with Lancashire teaching Hospitals instead of seeing your GP; we encourage you to do this as soon as possible so you can see your midwife and have your early screening tests.
When you submit the form our booking team will arrange your first booking appointment and also notify your GP of your pregnancy.
It is now routine practice for women to be seen on their own for the first 10 minutes of their appointment
Your booking appointment will between 9-13 weeks of pregnancy.
Before Referring to our services please note on the referral form:
1. Only select yes for the question "Would you like more information on homebirth" if you are interested in having your baby at home.
2. Choosing Chorley Birth Centre: if you wish to birth at Chorley then this is a freestanding midwifery unit staffed by midwives only.
To self-refer to our services, please use this link.
- Folic Acid
If you are not already taking a folic acid supplement you should start taking this straight away (400mcg/day). This should ideally be started three months before getting pregnant and continued for the first 12 weeks. This will help to protect against certain rare abnormalities.
- Food hygiene and food-acquired infections
We advise you only to drink pasteurised milk. Avoid cheeses such as camembert, brie and blue vein cheese. Avoid all pates, uncooked or undercooked ready prepared meals. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/healthy-pregnancy-diet/
- Diet
Having a healthy and nutritious diet in pregnant is really important as your baby relies on your to provide the right balance of nutrients to help them grow and develop.
- Smoking
Stopping smoking will help both you and your baby immediately. Harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide, and other damaging chemicals will clear from your body. Visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/smoking-pregnant/ to find out the benefits to you and your baby when you stop smoking.
- Alcohol
It’s safer not to drink any alcohol if you’re pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, because it can damage your growing baby. By not drinking, you are protecting your baby and minimising the risks to their development and future health.
- Medication
Before taking any medicine when you're pregnant, including painkillers, check with your pharmacist, midwife or GP that it's suitable. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/medicines-in-pregnancy/
- Exercise
The more active and fit you are during pregnancy, the easier it will be for you to adapt to your changing shape and weight gain. It will also help you to cope with labour and get back into shape after the birth. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pregnancy-exercise/
