Antenatal care
Antenatal care is the care and help you receive from health professionals during the course of your pregnancy. It is important you take good care of your own health and that of your unborn baby during pregnancy.
As soon as you find out you are pregnant, you should get in touch with us to find out more information on the services and support that are available to you.
Website
The Pregnancy Care Planner
NHS – Antenatal Care
Family Planning
Our family planning clinics offer free, confidential advice and information about contraception and sexual health.
We provide a range of services including:
– Confidential advice about contraception
– The combined oral contraceptive pill
– The Progestogen-only pill
– Progestogen injections
– Limited supplies of free condoms
– Free emergency contraception
– Confidential advice about STIs
– Cervical screening
– Unplanned pregnancy advice
– Free pregnancy tests
– Pre-conception advice and fertility awareness information
– Fitting and checking of caps, diaphragms, and coils (intrauterine devices, or IUDs)
Please book an appointment (through reception or via our online services) with your GP to discuss any of the above in more detail.
Websites
NHS – Planning a Pregnancy
NHS – The Facts about Contraception
Emergency Contraception
If you’ve forgotten to take your pill, your condom split or you’ve had unprotected sex in the last 72 hours then you may need emergency contraception, and the sooner you take it the better.
Emergency contraception is available free from Contraception and Sexual Health Services, some GPs (family doctors) and most pharmacies (chemists), even if you’re under 16.
If you’ve had unprotected sex or your condom failed, it is also really important to consider your risk for sexually transmitted infections and to think about your long-term contraception needs. Please phone the surgery to book an emergency appointment.
If you miss the 72 hours it is still possible to have an emergency coil fitted up to 5 days after unprotected sex. You can have an emergency coil fitted for free at your local sexual health clinic.
Neo-natal Checks
Some newborn babies are released from hospital without a detailed examination. If this is the case, our GPs are happy to perform the relevant checks, either in the surgery, or in comfort of your own home, depending on which is easier for you.
In most cases, the Practice will contact new mums to arrange for this to happen, on rare occasions where we are unaware of the birth, please feel free to give us a call and arrange an appointment or visit.
Postnatal Care
Postnatal care extends for between 6-8 weeks after the birth of your baby. During this period, routine checks are carried out by the health visitor and you and your baby’s recovery is monitored.
During your postnatal care you will find out about feeding, potty training, illnesses, safety and more. You will be able to ask your health visitor questions and request advice.
Websites
NHS – Birth to 5 years old guide
NHS – Breastfeeding Guide
Netmums – Information and support
Preconception Advice
If you are planning to have a baby or you need to know more information about how to look after yourself and your unborn baby, please book an appointment with your GP.
We can provide you with all the information you need to know to have a happy and healthy pregnancy.
Websites
NHS – Before you try to get pregnant
NHS – Pregnancy Care Planner
NHS – See how your baby will develop
NHS – Work out your due date
Sexual Health & HIV Services
We aim to deliver a confidential, friendly and high-quality service. We offer full sexual health tests (with gonorrhoea and chlamydia results within 24 hours and remaining test results within 7-10 days), family planning, outpatient HIV treatment and services, and specialised sexual health services.
Phone
0203 315 6699
Website
www.chelwest.nhs.uk