Birth Reflections Service

After a baby is born, it can help to talk about your experience. You might wish to ask questions about what happened and why. You and your partner may choose to reflect on your feelings and how the birth felt for you.

The Birth Reflections Service is a listening and information giving service run by specialist midwives. The team are there to support all people and their partners who have had maternity care at Leicester’s Hospitals. They can also help those who are planning to have another baby.

Pregnancy and childbirth can be emotionally challenging. The team can help recognise and support you with any mental health difficulties. They work closely with the perinatal and maternal mental health teams and can guide you towards the support that would suit your needs best.

The Birth Reflections service welcomes all people and they want to do what they can to make it a safe and comfortable experience for you. For this reason, they can offer you a choice of how to have your session:

• You may choose to have an appointment in the Birth Reflections room at Leicester General Hospital. The room is a comfortable, relaxed space away from the maternity unit
• Or if you prefer, a video appointment can be arranged to give more flexibility in where you choose to have your session

Birth partners are encouraged to come and the team understand that you may choose to bring and feed your baby. The team know that people from ethnically diverse backgrounds are more likely to have a difficult birthing experience and they can offer interpreting services if required.

The service wants to hear and learn from your experience. The Birth Reflections team can help improve Leicester’s maternity care by reporting back your concerns, so that changes can be made. Your name will not be used when your story is used for feedback.

You can get in contact with the Birth Reflections Service by phone or email: uhl-tr.birthreflectionsmailbox@nhs.net– please leave your full name, date of birth and phone number.

Tel: 07876476003 – please leave your full name and date of birth.

If you are a healthcare professional who is making the referral, please also include the Hospital number or NHS number if known.