The new passports will be handed out at 16-week pregnancy appointments
Maternity support worker Katie Saunby (left) and midwife Samantha Brotherton with the MAMA Academy Pregnancy Passports that will be handed out from this week(Image: Humber Health Partnership)
New “Pregnancy Passports” have been introduced by hospital midwives working across the Humber region. Midwives in Hull, Goole, Grimsby and Scunthorpe have introduced MAMA Pregnancy Passports to help throughout people’s pregnancy journeys.
These special passports, produced by the MAMA Academy, are compact, easy-to-carry booklets for you to record questions you might have, access QR codes for information and help you keep track of your appointments. Designed to complement your maternity records known as Badger Notes at maternity units in Hull, Goole, Grimsby and Scunthorpe, they keep essential details, such as your blood group, risk factors and choices surrounding your care, in one place.
There is also a section for you to jot down ideas about your birth plan and contact information for your care team who will be looking after you until your baby is born. Anna Harrison, community and midwifery-led unit matron at NHS Humber Health Partnership, says midwives will be handing out the passports at the 16-week pregnancy appointment, from this week.
She said: “There are fantastic little booklets and they’re really useful for all your notes and questions you might have. They’ll ensure you’re actively involved in your care throughout your pregnancy and give you lots of information to make sure everything you need is in one place – we hope you’ll love them.”
The Pregnancy Passports have been introduced after parents gave valuable feedback to the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership following the introduction of Badger Notes. The passports include helpful messages to keep you safe during pregnancy and suggests topics you might want to discuss at your appointments, ensuring you stay in control, nothing is missed and you are actively involved in decisions about your care.
They are also really helpful if you switch care teams, travel or move during your pregnancy or your digital information cannot be accessed quickly in an emergency. They are light, designed to fit in a handbag and have pouches to hold growth charts, hospital letters, and other documents, making it a handy pregnancy companion.
Unfortunately, they cannot be given to anyone already beyond 16 weeks of pregnancy as they need to be filled in with a midwife at the appropriate appointment to help with birth planning.