All maternity vaccinations can now be booked via Swift Queue - Online Appointment Healthcare Platform | Swiftqueue

Vaccinations are available Monday – Friday at UHCW in Antenatal Clinic, Tuesdays and Fridays at the Owen Building, St Cross and Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at City of Coventry Healthcare Centre. Drop ins are available between 9am and 3pm but times may vary so you are advised to book a slot using the link above to guarantee your preferred time and date.

Whooping Cough – Offered all year round

Whooping Cough (Pertussis) vaccine is offered during pregnancy to protect your baby from birth.

The optimal time to get vaccinated is between 16 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, as this ensures your baby receives the maximum protection through the transfer of your antibodies before birth. If you miss this window, you can still have the vaccine up until you go into labour, but this is less ideal as it may not provide direct protection for your baby. However, being vaccinated at any stage can still protect you from whooping cough and reduce the risk of passing it on to your baby. Act now to give your baby the best start!

For more information, visit Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy - NHS , or speak to your midwife.

RSV Vaccination – Offered all year round

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine is offered during pregnancy to protect your baby from birth.

RSV is a major respiratory virus, more common in winter but can happen any time of year. RSV infections account for around 30,000 hospitalisations of children under the age of 5 in the UK every year.

Receiving the vaccine reduces the risk of severe RSV-related lung infections by approximately 70 per cent during a baby’s first six months of life. The vaccine works by boosting the mother’s immune system to produce antibodies that fight RSV. These protective antibodies are then passed to the baby through the placenta, offering vital protection from birth.

The vaccine will be offered from 28 weeks of pregnancy. Getting vaccinated at 28 weeks or soon after provides the best protection, even for babies born prematurely. However, if the vaccine is given later in pregnancy, it can still help protect your baby and reduce the risk of spreading infection to your newborn. If it’s not possible to have the vaccine earlier, it can still be administered right up until delivery.

For more information, visit What is RSV and is there a vaccine? – UK Health Security Agency or speak to your midwife.

Flu Vaccination – Offered during Flu season only, September – March

All pregnant women are encouraged to have the flu vaccine, as it offers important protection for both mother and baby. The flu vaccine is safe to receive at any stage of pregnancy, from conception onwards.

Benefits of the flu vaccine during pregnancy include:

• Reducing the risk of serious complications like pneumonia, especially in the later stages of pregnancy.
• Lowering the chances of miscarriage, premature birth, or low birth weight caused by flu.
• Providing your baby with some immunity to flu during the first few months of life.
• Reducing the risk of passing flu to your newborn.

For more information, visit The flu jab in pregnancy - NHS, or speak to your midwife.

Smoking Advice

UHCW maternity service recommends that all smokers including pregnant mums consider using the free specialist stop smoking services.

Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of harm to babies. Carbon monoxide from burning cigarettes enters the mum's lungs and then quickly enters the baby's bloodstream via the placenta, leaving less oxygen for baby to develop and grow properly. Each cigarette smoked deprives babies of oxygen for around 20 minutes, increasing their heart rate.

Stopping smoking during pregnancy can reduce the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, having smaller, weaker and underdeveloped babies. it can also reduce the risk of pre term deaths, cot death and breathing problems after birth.

Midwives can refer pregnant women to the Warwickshire Stop Smoking Service and a local Stop Smoking in Pregnancy Adviser will ring pregnant women to discuss all the options available. Smokers can also visit www.quit4baby.co.uk.

The stop smoking in pregnancy service provides access to a local specialist stop smoking in pregnancy advisor, either at home or in a local pharmacy, regular appointments for support and advice throughout the pregnancy and free Nicotine Replacement Therapy

UHCW is a ‘Smoke Free Site’ based on guidance from NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and UHCW’s own commitment to lead the way and set an example in providing a totally smoke free environment.

Maternity Exemption Certificate

Are you pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months? You are entitled to free NHS dental treatment and NHS prescriptions with a valid maternity exemption certificate.

Ask your midwife about the digital maternity exemption service.
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/.../maternity-exemption...

A maternity exemption certificate entitles you to free NHS prescriptions. You can also use the certificate as proof that you are entitled to free NHS dental treatment while you are pregnant.
Find out if you're entitled to help with other health costs using the NHS eligibility checker.

Who is entitled?
You’re entitled to a maternity exemption certificate if, at the time of your application, you are pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months.

How you can apply?
Speak to your midwife, doctor or health visitor. They'll complete the application for you. They can do this as soon as they confirm that you’re pregnant.
If they use the digital maternity exemption service you can get your certificate by email as soon as they have completed the application. Otherwise, you'll get a paper certificate in the post within 10 working days of us receiving your application

Further information about support or financial support for pregnant women can be found here.

---

Back