Norfolk & Waveney Local Maternity & Neonatal System

Pelvic Floor exercises are for all!

To support all those in Norfolk & Waveney's diverse community with their pelvic floor exercises, visit the links for tailored resources:
-Pelvic floor exercises and advice - A guide for trans men, trans masculine and non-binary people (who were assigned female at birth):
https://thepogp.co.uk/Resources/140/pelvic_floor_muscle_exercises_and_advice_a_guide_for_trans_men_trans_masculine_and_nonbinary_people_who_were_assigned_female_at_birth

-Pelvic floor exercises and advice - A guide for trans women, trans feminine and non-binary people (who were assigned male at birth): https://thepogp.co.uk/Resources/141/pelvic_floor_muscle_exercises_and_advice_a_guide_for_trans_women_trans_feminine_and_nonbinary_people_who_were_assigned_male_at_birth

The LMNS team is proud to support Norwich Pride 2024! 🏳️‍🌈

With the weather warming up, you might find yourself trying to quench your thirst more.

The most important thing you can do to keep your bladder working well is to ensure that you are drinking plenty of water-based drinks each day. Most adults and teenagers should have between 1500 and 2000mls of fluid every twenty-four hours, with drinks being spread throughout the waking hours, until about an hour before sleep. This works out as around 6-8 glasses a day. More than this may be needed if the weather is very hot and for those who are very active.

If you are drinking correctly then your bladder should empty about four to eight times a day. Urine should be pale or straw-coloured. Yellow or darker coloured urine may be an indication that there is a need to increase fluid intake.

Fluids that are good for the bladder:
Water is the best option for the bladder and for general health
Diluted cordial / squash drinks
Diluted fruit juice
Many fruit and herbal teas
Red bush tea (a type of tea that is naturally caffeine free)

Fluids to avoid for bladder health:
Alcoholic drinks
Caffeinated drinks. These include tea, coffee hot chocolate, cola and many energy drinks. Decaffeinated tea and coffee are not totally caffeine free, but have only a small amount of caffeine in them, so are a good substitute to regular tea and coffee
Fizzy drinks

For more information visit:
https://www.bbuk.org.uk/maintaining-a-healthy-bladder-all-year-around/

If you are worried about your bladder health or are experiencing any of the following, then talk to your midwife, GP or other healthcare professional.
Pain or a burning sensation when passing urine
Passing blood in your urine
Passing urine more frequently or having an urge to pass urine that is stronger than usual
It takes you longer to empty your bladder than usual, you find it difficult to pass urine, or you feel that you have not managed to fully empty when you go to the toilet
Any leakage of urine during the day or at night
If you are waking more than once a night to pass urine

Calling all Black parents and carers living in Norfolk📣Has your baby received neonatal care in the last three years? We want to hear from you at our listening event on Saturday 3rd August 10am - 1pm. Go to the link below to complete a short form to tell us you’re interested, and we’ll be in touch with more info https://office.pulse.ly/5528ejnfge 💙

Pregnancy is a big life event, which comes with lots of different emotions. As many as 1 in 5 women experience mental health problems in pregnancy and after birth. This can include anxiety, depression, mental distress and sometimes severe mental ill health. It is important to look after yourself, physically and mentally, and know where to go for help. You can talk to your midwife, your GP, or your health visitor, or you can self refer to Talking Therapies.

For more information, scan the QR code of click the link below for the Just One Norfolk website:

https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/pregnancy-early-days/having-a-baby/looking-after-your-mental-health-in-pregnancy/

To self-refer to Talking Therapies, scan the QR code, follow the link below, or you can phone 0300 123 1503

https://www.wellbeingnands.co.uk/

Planning a holiday this summer whilst pregnant?

Here's our advice for how to travel safely and anything you need to think about before flying!

The Family Hubs approach aims to provide help and support for all aspects of your parenting journey.

Family Hubs bring together a range of existing services, so you are able to access the advice and support you need, when you need it. They are for families with babies, children and young people from conception until they reach the age of 19, or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

For more information, scan the QR codes or follow the links below.
https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/family-hubs
https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/familyhubs

📣Calling expectant Dads from Kings Lynn 📣

Dadvengers are running expectant fathers courses in Kings Lynn. The courses are designed to help dads prepare for fatherhood.

Dadvengers is a national organisation aiming to support and educate dads and create positive fatherhood experiences for families. For more information click the below.

https://dadvengers.com/

It's Group B Strep Awareness Month- have you heard of Group B Strep (GBS)?

It is a common bacteria that can be found in our bodies which is usually harmless to adults. However, when it is in the ge***al tract (e.g. va**na) during pregnancy it can be passed to your baby during birth. Read our GBS fact sheets to find out more and access https://gbss.org.uk/ for more reading, research and information.

If you have any concerns about GBS in your pregnancy, speak to your midwife or obstetrician.

Whooping cough is on the rise, have you been vaccinated?

Whooping cough, clinically known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection which affects the lungs. The first signs of infection are similar to a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat, but after about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are typically worse at night. Young babies may also make a distinctive ‘whoop’ or have difficulty breathing after a bout of coughing, though not all babies make this noise which means whooping cough can be hard to recognise.

If anyone in your family is diagnosed with whooping cough, it’s important they stay at home and do not go into work, school or nursery until 48 hours after starting antibiotics, or 3 weeks after symptoms start if they have not had antibiotics. This helps to prevent the spread of infection, especially to vulnerable groups, including infants. However, vaccination remains the best protection for babies and children.

Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/whooping-cough-cases-continue-to-rise

SmartStart is our Smoke free maternity support pathway. Smoking in pregnancy puts your baby, your pregnancy, and yourself at higher risk of complications. Get support from out trained To***co Dependency Advisors to quit smoking and start your journey to health today.

Please fill in our Maternity and Neonatal Voice Partnerships survey evaluating the Personalised Care and Support Plans (PCSP) to enable us to represent your feedback in improvements and training going forward.

The PCSP should

- Give you information about your pregnancy, birth and postnatal choices
- ⁠Help you to share what is important to you with your health care providers
- ⁠Signpost you to support where needed

Please get in touch with your local Trusts MNVP if you have any questions or would like to give more detailed feedback.

Find the survey here - https://forms.gle/CN8rQ3nCKJjtLjmr8 Or by scanning the QR code at the back of your PCSP

Attend Norfolk & Waveney LMNS's next Local Learning Event: World Breastfeeding Week 2024

🗓Thursday 1st August 2024 10am-12:30pm
💻Via MS Teams

Book your free place via Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/norfolk-waveney-lmns-local-learning-event-world-breastfeeding-week-2024-tickets-922751904787?aff=oddtdtcreator

Agenda:
• Infant Feeding Initiatives in Norfolk and Waveney
• BFI and Start for Life
• Managing Allergies
• Donor Milk
• Peer Supporters
• Making Breastfeeding Accessible
• First Drops Initiative

All attendee’s receive a certificate of attendance perfect for revalidation and portfolios!

Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System

For many of us , the thought of talking about private areas of your body or topics that are personal and intimate may be very daunting, especially if you have not discussed them with any one else. Rest assured that the health professional team supporting you during pregnancy and after birth are sensitive to this and will do their upmost to put you at ease.

If you are experiencing symptoms visit the following link to find out how you can access care, and a referral to the perinatal pelvic health Physiotherapy teams.

What does pelvic health Physiotherapy involve?
Pelvic health assessments are carried out in a private area so any discussions cannot be overheard and are totally confidential. Everything that you tell your physiotherapist is private and will not be discussed with anyone else unless you give your permission. The specialist pelvic health physiotherapist will ask in detail about your symptoms, and what treatments or strategies you may have tried already.

They may ask you to fill in a bladder diary to look at what you are drinking, how often you go the toilet and how much urine you pass, usually over a three-day period. This will allow them to prescribe individualized bladder training strategies to help you to improve your symptoms.

They may ask you to fill in a diary to look at your bowel motions, and possibly what you are eating & drinking also – this diary may need to cover up to 4 weeks of your normal eating pattern.

For bladder, bowel and persistent pelvic pain symptoms you may be asked if you are happy to undergo a va**nal or re**al examination, so that the physiotherapist can assess your pelvic floor muscles and check their strength, coordination and function. You may wish to take a friend or family member with you to your appointment or ask for a chaperone. The physiotherapist will discuss why this is necessary and what it involves and following the discussion it will only ever be performed with your consent. This is useful as not everybody will benefit from the same exercise program. You may be taught specific exercises to improve your pelvic floor muscle function if required

You may prefer not to have an examination there and then but to have time to think before you give your decision and that is absolutely fine. You may prefer not to have an examination at all, and you have the right to decline and does not mean you will not be offered treatment if the physiotherapist feels it will help you.

When an assessment has been completed the therapist will discuss their findings with you and the options available so that together you can plan the most appropriate treatment plan

Drinking more than 200mg caffeine a day in pregnancy can increase your risk of complications such as low birth weight, and even miscarriage. For more information follow the link below to the NHS website.



https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/

Are you wondering what exercise you can do whilst pregnant?
The answer is, in general, all exercise is safe! The only exercise we ask you to avoid is any contact sport such as rugby, hockey, football, where there is a chance you might be knocked or injured.
Walking, running, swimming, yoga and going to the gym are all perfectly safe as long as you do them within your limits and ensure you keep hydrated and well rested afterwards.
In fact, studies show those who exercise throughout pregnancy often experience smoother labours and postnatal recovery from birth!
You can read more about what exercises are good for you on Just One Norfolk's website or the other websites listed on the posters attached.

Now the summer holidays are creeping up on us, you may be looking forward to travelling with family or friends. Here are some top tips for keeping safe when you travel; you can find out more at https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/travelling/

Happy 76th Birthday to our wonderful NHS!

On this day we want to thank each and every member of staff who makes up the NHS, every role is a vital cog in the system to keep the service running and caring for people across the country.

We are so lucky to have you, especially all of our awe-inspiring staff across Norfolk & Waveney Local Maternity and Neonatal System- thank you!

Personalised Care and Support Plans are in place across Norfolk and Waveney to support every pregnant person throughout their journey! This booklet will improve shared decision making and personalisation of each persons pregnancy.

You will be given the document early in your pregnancy at your booking appointment. After this appointment take time to read through the booklet at your own pace. You may want to read the whole way through, or take it a stage at a time depending on where you are in your pregnancy.

If you have any questions, note them down in your booklet or on your badgernotes app.

At your next appointment, your midwife or Doctor should ask you if you have any questions or thoughts from your PCSP. You will be able to discuss these alongside any decisions you need to make.

Yesterday saw Norfolk and Waveney LMNS's 3 Trust Fetal Surveillance Midwives and Consultant Obstetricians for Fetal Monitoring join forces to run through the refreshed systemwide Fetal Monitoring Study Day 2024!

Updates to the content include:
▪ New case studies taken from local learning
▪ New interactive Risk Assessment activity
▪ New interactive Human Factors at Handover activity
▪ New interactive Reduced Fetal Movements activity
▪ Updated Competency Assessment
▪ and more!

This way of working assures us that all midwives and obstetricians across Norfolk and Waveney are receiving the same standard and content of training, in line with NHS England's Core Competency Framework. A great example of when system working can improve safety and outcomes!

A massive thankyou to the Fetal Surveillance Leads for another few months of hard work and Task & Finish groups to get the new content ready for launch this Summer.

There’s no known safe limit of drinking during pregnancy. The safest option is to stop drinking when you’re trying to get pregnant or as soon as you know you’re pregnant.

Use Alcohol Change UK's unit calculator to find out how many units are in a particular drink, or to check how much you're drinking. Click this link to find out more: https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/interactive-tools/unit-calculator

If you are pregnant and would like some support to cut down the amount you drink, you can talk to your GP, midwife or call Just One Number on 0300 300 0123. Health professionals will be able to help you to have a healthy pregnancy and birth.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to your developing baby. The more you drink, the greater the risk, because when you drink alcohol it passes through your blood to your unborn baby.

You can find out more on the Just One Norfolk website: https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/pregnancy-early-days/having-a-baby/drinking-alcohol-during-pregnancy/

If you are pregnant and would like some support to cut down the amount you drink, you can talk to your GP, midwife or call Just One Number on 0300 300 0123. Health professionals will be able to help you to have a healthy pregnancy and birth.

This Alcohol Awareness week, Alcohol Change UK have some great alcohol free alternatives for the summer - follow this link to find their top ten alcohol free drinks: https://alcoholchange.org.uk/blog/top-ten-alcohol-free-drinks-for-the-summer

If you are pregnant and would like some support to cut down the amount you drink, you can talk to your GP, midwife or call Just One Number on 0300 300 0123. Health professionals will be able to help you to have a healthy pregnancy and birth.

Watch the Lullaby Trusts video on how to continue following safer sleep advice when your baby starts to roll around in their cot or Moses basket.

When your baby starts to roll Sleeping your baby on their back for every sleep, nap and snooze day and night is the most important thing you can do to help reduce the risk of sudden infan...

Take a look at the attached poster from the Lullaby Trust (https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/) on how you can spot infections in your baby.

If you ever have any concerns contact your GP, Health Visitor, Midwife or call NHS 111. If you have immediate concerns call 999 or attend your local emergency department.



Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System

Spotlight today on one of the many support groups available for Dad's: Match of the Dads.

"A popular football group set up for Dads has renewed its partnership with a Norfolk Mental Health Service to promote perinatal mental health and offer support to parents and new parents to be. This announcement comes just in time for The Match of the Dads nonstop 24 hour game starting at noon on Saturday 29th June.

Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies has renewed its sponsorship with all new home shirts carrying the message and will offer support to the group through access to socials, events, and workshops. Kelvin Colbourn (Community Development Team Leader) for Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies is also involved in the group as a Wellbeing Advisor. He said “Both the Service and the group are thrilled to renew the sponsoring of the shirts and more importantly, the offering of support to Dads in the group, and any other parents out there. It’s well documented that men struggle to engage with services for their mental health, the message on the shirt will hopefully encourage those struggling to reach out to us for help. It’s a really good match, and we are all thrilled to continue the partnership”.
Match of the Dads - Norfolk

Watch the Lullaby Trust video for tips on how to continue following safer sleep advice during the hotter summer months.

Baby Summer Safety Summer is here and we want to make sure that families enjoy the warm weather and keep their baby safe as the temperature rises. For more information visit Th...