Local Maternity System - What will take place during your Birth Reflections appointment

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After the birth

What will take place during your Birth Reflections appointment

Doctor and nurse - Health professionals A Birth Reflections appointment is usually a one off, one to one session of about an hour with a health care professional. It will take place routinely at the hospital (this does not have to be in a maternity or neonatal space), or in some circumstances in the community or virtually over MS Teams/Zoom or over the phone. This will be tailored to your needs wherever possible.

During the session, depending on what you have identified you wish to discuss, the midwife or other health care professional may go through your maternity care record with you, step-by-step, explaining what happened and why.

During the conversation, you will have the opportunity to:

reflect on your birth experience
reflect on your experience on the neonatal care ward (if applicable)
explore the care you received during pregnancy, labour, birth or immediately after your baby was born
ask any previously unanswered questions
accept an offer of further support or onward referral to another service appropriate for your needs
you may also wish to give feedback during your session, or at a later date, to help improve maternity and/or neonatal practice.

You are welcome to bring someone with you for support. This may be your partner, a close family member or a friend. They do not need to have been your birth partner. You can also bring your baby to the appointment.

Week 4

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Your baby is now officially an embryo and is about the size of a poppy seed.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/4-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 8

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Your baby is now the size of a kidney bean and weighs 1g.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/8-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 12

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Welcome to the second trimester!

Your baby is about the size of a small lime and weighs approximately 14g.

You have hopefully seen your midwife for your 'booking in' appointment, if you have not yet seen a midwife please make an appointment quickly, so you can have all of your choices about screening tests explained and offered to you.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/12-weeks-pregnant/ for more information. You can also link to the 'Pregnancy Journey' area here.

Week 16

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Your baby is about the size of an avocado and weighs approximately 100g.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/16-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 20

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Your baby has grown in length and is now the length of a small banana and weighs approximately 300g. Around this time you will be offered your '20 week' scan, also known as the 'anatomy' or 'anomaly' scan.Click here for more information about screening.

This is a also a good time to talk and sing to your bump as your baby can now hear sounds. This is great way for you and your partner/family to bond with your baby.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/20-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 24

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Your baby has grown again to the approximate length of an ear of sweetcorn and weighs about 600g.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/24-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 28

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Welcome to the third trimester!

Your baby is now approximately the weight of an aubergine; about 1kg and approximately 37cm in length.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/28-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 32

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Your baby now weighs approximately the same as a coconut; around 1.5kg.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/32-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 36

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Your baby is now around the same size as a lettuce, approximately 47cm long and weighs around 2.6kg.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/36-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 40

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Your baby is now the weight of a small watermelon which is approximately 3.3kg and around 50cm in length.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/40-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.