https://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/royal-surrey-maternity

Royal Surrey Maternity Unit, Egerton Road, Guilford (2026)

11/06/2026

Did you know that your baby's feeds are not just for nutrition? Feeding is also a wonderful opportunity to provide love, comfort and reassurance to your baby.

We can’t really feed responsively in the first few days. Newborn babies can be very sleepy and may need prompting/waking to feed. Please follow the individual advice provided by the maternity staff caring for you and your baby. Once your baby is waking regularly for feeds and you're feel confident feeding them-i.e. you can recognising signs of good attachment, your baby is settling with feeds and producing reassuring wet and dirty nappies, any weight loss is within the normal range- and feeding has been established we recommend you:

1. Follow your baby's feeding cues

2. Let your baby set the pace of the feed

3. Communicate with your baby during the feed

Ask your midwife about responsive feeding, feeding cues, paced bottle feeding and the Fourth Trimester.
More information can be found in our Facebook Videos in the Infant Feeding playlist (Facebook link in bio) or by signing up to our Free (for Royal Surrey Clients) Antenatal Breastfeeding Class.

11/06/2026

Free* Postnatal Bonding & Essential Baby Care Workshop

If you're approaching the arrival of your little one, our free online Postnatal Bonding & Essential Baby Care Workshop is the perfect way to get prepared! This 1.5-2 hour virtual session, led by our experienced Specialist Education Midwives, will give you the foundations to care for your newborn while strengthening the bond between you and your baby.

What you'll learn:
🟢 Postnatal bonding and building emotional attachment with your newborn
🟢 Recognising your baby’s signals & the foundations of Responsive Parenting
🟢 Practical tips on newborn skin care & umbilical stump care
🟢 Information about Vitamin K & Vitamin D
🟢 How to spot signs that your baby may be unwell
🟢 An overview of the essential newborn screening tests you’ll be offered
🟢 Time for Q&A about bonding and baby care

When to attend? We recommend attending this session with your birth partner from around 32 weeks of pregnancy to help you both feel ready for life with your baby.

🟣 Looking for more practical support? If you’re interested in hands-on learning like nappy changing, dressing and holding a baby consider joining our Baby Care Workshop, available in our Complete Package and as a stand alone workshop.

Book your free spot via your Maternity Parent Portal We’re here to support you every step of the way!

*Free classes for Royal Surrey Maternity Clients only. Paid for workshops and courses open to all

10/06/2026

🌈 As we celebrate Pride Month, we'd like to recognise our LGBTQIA+ Champion, Mhairi. Her passion and commitment play a vital role in ensuring Royal Surrey Maternity remains a safe, supportive, and welcoming space for everyone.

“A couple I supported gave me a pin badge with a rainbow which says ‘you are safe with me’—which I absolutely love. No matter how you identify yourself, or what your sexuality is, you are safe with us at Royal Surrey.” – Mhairi

Mhairi will be present at our brand new support group for LGBTQIA+ families, starting this Pride Month!

Join us on 23rd June in a relaxed, welcoming space to connect with other expectant and new parents in the LGBTQIA+ community.

See the "Free Courses and Events" tab in your Maternity portal for full details and to book your space.

To every family we care for—love is love, and you are always welcome here. 🏳️‍🌈❤️

10/06/2026

Get • ❗ We’ve updated our FAQ on rapid cooling devices such as the Nuby Rapid Cool and Tommee Tippee PrepGo. ➡️

🍼 Rapid cooling devices are designed to cool freshly prepared infant formula to a safe temperature for feeding within a few minutes.

🍐 NHS guidance advises that powdered infant formula should be made with freshly boiled tap water that has cooled to no less than 70°C because powdered infant formula is not sterile, and hot water helps to kill bacteria that may be present in the powder. The made-up formula needs to be cooled before it can be safely fed to a baby.

🚰 NHS guidance advice is to cool the bottle by holding it, with the lid on, under cold running water before feeding.

🦠 While rapid cooling devices may appear to adhere to NHS guidance on safe preparation, they reduce the amount of time that formula powder is exposed to heat, therefore bacteria in the powder may be more likely to survive if the formula cools too quickly. Recent studies support these concerns, providing evidence that rapid cooling could create conditions that are not sufficient to kill some pathogens including Salmonella spp., Cronobacter sakazakii and Candida species. These organisms can cause serious illness in infants.

🍼 Rapid cooling devices also add extra containers and handling steps to the preparation process, and each added step may increase the risk of contamination if equipment is not cleaned and used correctly.

🍐 We at First Steps have asked the Office for Product Safety and Standards to test these products to confirm whether they are safe to use. Until these devices have been independently tested and shown to be safe, we continue to recommend following current NHS guidance.

👏 You can find our full FAQ, and many others, on our infant milk info website https://infantmilkinfo.org/registration-and-survey/?mepr-unauth-page=2111&redirect_to=%2Ffaq%2Fquestions-about-infant-milk-safety%2F

10/06/2026

In my bag I packed labour comforts...a chunky comb

Did you know that squeezing a comb might help you manage the sensations of labour?

The Pain-Gate Theory: Our brain interprets signals from our nervous system, for example, determining if something is hot or cold, firm or light, pleasurable or painful. Pain signals are carried to the brain on the same nerve pathways as tactile (touch) signals, which travel much faster.

The theory is that if we present the nervous system with lots of tactile information, it is quickly carried to the brain. The brain busy interpreting the touch isn’t able to fully interpret slower, painful signals. In essence, the pain sensation can’t all get through because the tactile signals are blocking the route-they have slammed the gate closed behind them.

Why you might use a comb in labour: People that can’t use T.E.N.S ( due to medical conditions or the use of water) or who don’t wish to be touched may wish to squeeze a comb in their hand during their surges as an alternative way to access the pain-gate phenomenon.

Some people also believe that squeezing the comb stimulates some pain relieving and calming acupressure points in the palm of the hand. The comb can also be used alongside other labour coping techniques and labour and postnatal pain relieving medications.

How to use the comb: If you choose to use this method we recommend using a wooden comb with chunky prongs to reduce the risk of injury from breakage (combs available on our Delivery Suite and MLU).

To position the comb start by making a loose fist and taking note of where your middle finger meets your palm.

Position the comb, prongs down, across your palm in line with this point.

Wrap your fingers around the comb so that you can hold it in a loose but comfortable grip.

When you feel your surge/contraction strengthening or reaching towards its peak, squeeze the comb. You control the pressure and intensity of the pressure sensation. Your grip should not be painful.

Relax your grip during the rest period between your Contractions/Surges. Repeat as required.

09/06/2026

Call the Midwife Urgent Triage Line * line straight away on 0300 123 5473 at any time during the day or night if:

⚫️ Your baby is moving less than usual
⚫️ Their movements are weaker
⚫️ Their movements have stopped
⚫️ You feel that something is wrong even if you can't explain why

DO NOT wait until the next day
Do NOT try to make your baby move
GET CHECKED every time you feel concerned, even if previous checks have been normal.

Feeling your baby move is a sign that they are well. There are no set number of movements and every baby is different.

Movements generally become noticeable between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy and continue to increase until approx. 32 weeks of pregnancy when the movements stay roughly the same until birth.

While it is true that as they grow the type of movements you feel may change over time, the frequency and pattern of your baby's movement once established, should stay the same for the reminder of your pregnancy and even in labour. Baby’s do not run out of room to move or slowdown their movements at the end of pregnancy.

While hiccups are very normal, they do not count as movements when checking the baby’s activity in the uterus (womb) as they are not done on purpose.

Responding to any changes in your baby's movements helps to keep them safe. If you have any concerns* about your baby’s movements contact the Call A Midwife Urgent Triage Line straight away for advice. DO NOT wait for the next day or try to make your baby move.

09/06/2026

Perinatal mental health refers to mental and emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and in the post-birth period.
Difficulties during this time are common and can affect pregnant and postnatal women/people (approx. 1:4), and their partners (approx. 1:10).

This ASK check-in is a simple way to pause and notice how you’re really doing:

🟡 Appetite.
Has the way you’re feeling affected your appetite? Are you eating much more or much less than usual?

🟡 Sleep
Is your mood or anxiety affecting your sleep (when baby/your bladder allows)?

🟡 Knowing yourself and enjoying life
Is the way you’re feeling stopping you from enjoying life the way you usually would?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it might be time to ASK for support. Support can be a conversation, a check-in with someone you trust, or professional help.

Where to reach out:

🟡 Mums and birthing parents can speak with their Midwife, Health Visitor, or GP
🟡 Partners can contact their GP
🟡 Both parents can self-refer for talking therapies
🟡 Additional support is available through charities such as PANDAS and MIND

You can also find more information and resources in the Parent Mental Health chapter of the Maternity Parent Portal.

09/06/2026

If you’ve had a Caesarean Birth you might notice numbness around your scar. It's completely normal and happens because small nerves in the skin are affected during surgery, leading to reduced sensation in the area.

For many women/postnatal people, the numbness gradually improves over months, but for some, it can last longer. You may also feel tingling or sensitivity as nerves begin to heal. If you have concerns about your scar or sensation changes, speak with your GP for reassurance and guidance.

Your body has done something incredible. Be kind to yourself during recovery.

08/06/2026

Need help reading or translating the Maternity Parent Portal? We've got you covered!

🔄 Turn your phone sideways (landscape mode) to access visual impairment reader technologies and translation features easily.

💻 On a computer or laptop? Just look to the top right of the menu –

We believe every one of our service users should be able to access and enjoy our midwife created and curated content.

07/06/2026

Expecting a little pumpkin this Winter?

Our Autumn Complete Birth & Beyond Courses are now open for booking for parents due between November 2026 and January 2027!

Join other expectant parents on a supportive, expert-led journey covering everything you need to feel informed and confident as you prepare for birth, early parenthood, and life with your new baby.

🟠 Birth preparation
🟠 Newborn care and bonding
🟠 First Aid
🟠 Postnatal recovery and wellbeing
🟠 Opportunities to connect with other local parents

Give yourself the gift of knowledge, confidence, and community this autumn as you prepare to welcome your little one.

Spaces are limited, so book early to secure your place!

Visit the "Paid for Courses" tab in your Maternity Parent Portal for more information and to reserve your spot.

Royal Surrey Maternity Unit

11/06/2026

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