Your care during pregnancy
Doncaster
If in Doncaster, your care will be provided by the Doncaster Midwifery Service, part of Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
If you have just found out you are pregnant, it is important to be referred to the midwifery team as soon as possible so they can arrange any necessary appointments. Once you have had a positive pregnancy test, you can refer yourself by:
- Phone: 01302 642814
- Email: dbth.community.midwives@nhs.net
Between 28 and 36 weeks of your pregnancy, you will be offered a contact from the Doncaster health visiting service, which will begin their support for you and your family until your child is 5 years old.
In preparation for your baby’s arrival, Doncaster health visitors are offering a virtual antenatal course over 4 weeks using Microsoft Teams. To register for this course, please call 0300 021 8997 or message the Doncaster Health Visitors Facebook page (opens in new window).
North Lincolnshire
If you are living in North Lincolnshire, your care will be provided by the Midwifery service run by North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.
Between 28 and 36 weeks of your pregnancy, you will be offered a contact from the North Lincolnshire health visiting service, which will begin their support for you and your family until your child is 5 years old.
In preparation for your baby’s arrival, North Lincolnshire health visitors are offering a virtual antenatal course with the Children Centres, Midwives and the Baby Feeding team over 5 weeks using Microsoft Teams. To register for this course, please call 0800 019 9951.
Getting to know and understanding your baby
The early days and weeks with a new baby can be exciting, but they can also be challenging and confusing.
Support is available locally from your health visitor and community midwife. The health visitor will visit you at home before your baby is two weeks old and will help with any questions or concerns you may have.
You can also access support at the first friends and growing friends groups across Doncaster.
Additionally, a range of courses are available for Doncaster residents using the access code “STGEORGE”:
For further information, please see a guide to a healthy pregnancy and beyond (opens in new window).
Skin to skin
Giving birth is an active and intimate moment in a person’s life. It marks the beginning of a journey and the creation of lasting relationships that form the foundation of all future connections. It is a momentous experience for both mothers and infants, and how it is managed can have lasting effects on both. This precious moment deserves calmness and respect.
Babies who experience skin-to-skin contact with either their mum or dad at birth are less likely to cry in distress and show signs of calmness. Most newborns placed in skin-to-skin contact with their mothers immediately after birth move in a stable way. This helps regulate breathing, body temperature, and blood sugar, benefiting the baby’s survival. It also marks the start of a strong bond between mum and baby.
Some of the benefits of skin to skin contact are:
- reduces crying
- enhances attachment
- improvement in heart and lung function
- stabilises body temperature
- initiation of breastfeeding
- transfer of good bacteria
Coping with crying
Infant crying is normal, and it will stop. It is common for babies to cry more frequently from around 2 weeks of age.
Comfort methods can sometimes help soothe your baby, and the crying will stop. Check if your baby is hungry, tired, or needs a nappy change.
It’s important to remember that it’s okay to walk away if the crying is getting to you, as long as you’ve checked that the baby is safe. After a few minutes, when you feel calm, return and check on your baby.
Never, ever shake or hurt a baby. It can cause lasting brain damage and even death.
For more information, please see advice for parents on coping with crying (opens in new window).
Baby emotions
Right from the beginning, babies want to be social and interact. Parents play a crucial role in supporting their baby to regulate their emotions. During the first months and years of life, your baby moves from being totally reliant on parents for emotional support to beginning to regulate their own emotions.
The interactions a baby experiences have a long-term impact on their development. Feeling loved and cared for is just as important as food and sleep. When parents gaze at their newborn baby’s face, touch, coo, and make facial expressions, they are helping their baby’s brain to develop.
Parents who can tune in to their baby’s signals and cues begin to understand what these may mean and what the baby might be feeling and experiencing. This builds a relationship and connection between the child’s feelings and behaviour.
By responding to their baby’s cues, parents help manage their baby’s emotions, whether they indicate a need for soothing, sleep, or play. Over time, this process supports the child’s ability to gradually regulate their emotions themselves.
How parents tune into their baby
Parents need to take the time to observe and interpret their baby’s cues and communications in order to respond sensitively. Baby massage is one effective way to do this. It helps to foster a deeper connection between parent and baby, promoting emotional well-being and relaxation.
Doncaster health visiting service offers infant massage classes to support parents in developing these skills. Ask your health visitor for further information on these classes and how they can benefit you and your baby.
To learn more watch a Brave New World on YouTube (opens in new window).
Sleep
Looking after a baby can be tiring, especially in the first few months when your child is likely to wake several times during the night. Babies wake up at night to communicate that they need something, whether it’s food, comfort, or a change. This is normal and an essential part of keeping babies safe and healthy.
As your baby grows, it’s expected that they will begin to sleep for longer periods and wake up less often. However, every baby is different, and sleep patterns can vary.
- Safer sleep for your baby (opens in new window)
- Supporting sleep habits in children with additional needs (opens in new window)
Cry-sis (opens in new window) is a national charity offering support for families with excessively crying, sleepless and demanding babies.
Your relationship as new parents
Having a baby is exciting but can also challenge your relationship. The transition from a couple to a family of three, or more, can be one of the biggest changes you’ll face as parents.
For more information, please see looking after your relationship as new parents (opens in new window).
Cradle cap
Cradle cap is a common skin condition in babies, typically appearing within the first six weeks. It occurs due to increased oil production in the skin’s sebaceous glands.
While it usually clears up within a few months, it can persist for up to six to nine months in some babies. Cradle cap is not contagious and cannot be prevented.
It appears as greasy, yellow or brown, scaly patches on the scalp. In some cases, a thick, scaly layer may cover the entire scalp. The scales may become flaky and rub off easily, and while hair may come out with the scales, it will grow back.
For more information, please see managing cradle cap (opens in new window).
Winding your baby
For a short instruction video, please see how to wind your baby (opens in new window).
Advice about immunisations
- Try to be calm yourself as your child will pick up on your anxiety very easily.
- You will feel calmer if you are not rushed, so leave enough time to get to the appointment and to undress your baby.
- Hold your baby tightly when the injections are being given. Talking in a reassuring voice will sooth your baby.
- Breastfeeding just before, during and after the injections are being given will help to comfort your baby.
- If your baby uses a dummy this can also help to comfort them while the injection is being given or soon after.
- You can distract older children with a toy or by blowing bubbles.
For more information, please see:
- NHS vaccinations and when to have them (opens in new window)
- an introduction to childhood immunisations (opens in new window)
- frequently asked questions about immunisations (opens in new window)
Travelling with your baby
Start making a list a few weeks before you leave of everything you use with your baby and work out which items are essential. These could include:
- your baby’s favourite toy or comforter
- an extra change of clothes for the journey
- car seat
- travel cot
- cot bedding
- sun cream
- baby first aid kit
- emergency contact details
- baby food and formula
It is important to get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before you travel abroad, as it allows you to access state healthcare at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. The card covers treatment needed while abroad, including treatment for existing medical conditions and routine maternity care (as long as you are not travelling to give birth). The EHIC is valid in all European Economic Area (EEA) countries. You can apply online for a UK Global Health Insurance Card or EHIC (opens in new window).
All children under the age of 16 must have their own passport to travel. If you are not a British citizen, contact your embassy to get a passport for your child. A UK passport typically takes around three weeks to arrive, but it may take longer if more information is needed or if there are any issues with the application.
For more information, please see travelling with your baby (opens in new window).
Useful contact numbers
Page last reviewed: February 10, 2025
Next review due: February 10, 2026
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