Supporting you after your birth

Perineal Clinic

The Perineal clinic is a specialist clinic led by a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist for women who have sustained an obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) during childbirth.  We offer endo-anal ultrasound scans to assess the healing of the tear and counselling regarding risks on future modes of delivery. 

Postnatal Clinic

The Postnatal Clinic is led by a consultant obstetrician and appointments are 30 minutes long either in person at the Women’s Health Centre in our Outpatient Building or by video consultation using NHS Attend Anywhere to suit your convenience. The aims are to offer an opportunity for you and your family to discuss your pregnancy and birth, provide appropriate counselling on the risk of recurrence of relevant conditions or complications in future pregnancies and on long term health.  Preconception counselling and lifestyle advice can also be provided.

Referrals can be made after your birth by the team looking after you or by your GP.  Appointments are booked around six to eight weeks after your birth.

Ducklings Clinic

This clinic is held in the Neonatal Unit. The aim of this clinic is to reduce the number of newborn babies needing to attend A&E to check for jaundice levels, weight loss and poor feeding. All babies under seven days of age are seen in the clinic if the community midwife has a concern regarding jaundice, weight loss or poor feeding. If parents are concerned, they can contact their midwife to get in touch with us to organise for their baby to be seen. Babies will be admitted onto the Neonatal unit if they need to have phototherapy and/or help with feeding. Parents are welcome to stay with their infants if space allows. Breastfeeding and general feeding advice will also given if the baby does not need admission.

Our contact number is: 0208 535 6513

Breast feeding clinic

Infant Feeding information and support is provided Monday to Saturday on Mulberry Ward to help get feeding off to a good start. Please ask your midwife for more information. 

Please note: this clinic is for Waltham Forest residents only.

Birth Reflections

Birth Reflections is a confidential midwifery led listening service with the support of the clinicians for mothers who have given birth at Whipps Cross University Hospital, either in hospital or in the community.

What is birth reflections?
If you have recently given birth with our support, the Birth Reflections service gives you the opportunity to discuss your birth experience with us. We offer all new parents the opportunity to come back and see us. However you’re feeling, we’re here to support you. We can also reassure and help you plan any future births that you might be considering.

What will happen at my appointment?
At your first Birth Reflections appointment you will spend around an hour with us, going through the medical notes that were taken through your birth, to explain what happened without the medical jargon. We want to help you feel in control and empowered after such a life-changing event.

How do I make an appointment?
Health Professionals can refer you and you can also self-refer to our Birth Reflections service from six weeks after having your baby. We’ll wait to hear from you. All you need to do is email us on: bartshealth.wxmaternityappts@nhs.net.

The visiting times are between 8:00am - 8:00pm. You can have two birthing partners with you. 

We also have a large maternity lounge where you can spend some time to relax. There is a baby check room where your newborn baby will have their baby checks and an audiology test room to check your baby’s hearing (sometimes this will be done after you and your baby have been discharged into the community or in the postnatal clinic).

We have a milk kitchen with a large fridge where you can store milk for your baby for up to 24 hours and a microwave for sterilising baby equipment only. If you do bring formula milk to the ward, please bring ready-made formula. You will have access to breast pumps if necessary during your stay.

We have offer free tea, coffee and biscuits for yourself and your birthing partner(s). There is also a water cooler and ice dispenser available. Unfortunately due to health and safety reasons, we do not have a microwave available to reheat food. 

To help protect your newborn, during your stay we will place an electronic ankle band and two name tags on them. These can be removed following disharge.

Feeding 

Once you have your baby, our dedicated team of midwives and infant feeding advisors will provide you with one-to-one support to help you feed your baby.

It can take a while before you feel confident, especially if you are breastfeeding, but help is available from your midwife, health visitor or local breastfeeding support group.

Find out more about breastfeeding, bottle feeding and introducing solid foods (weaning).

The HENRY Early Infant Feeding team is also on hand to provide you with one-to-one support to help you feed your baby. Details on the times and venues for our community breast feeding clinics (under antenatal clinics)

Find out more about support in Waltham Forest . Please note that this service is currently only available for Waltham Forest residents only.

Safe sleep and baby carriers

If you’re looking for information on safe sleep, slings and baby carriers you can visit the websites below:

• Caring for your baby at night and when sleeping
• How to reduce the risk of SIDS for your baby  
• Wearing a baby sling or carrier