Maternity Service helpline
Support and advice for pregnant and postnatal women using Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Maternity Service.
You can talk to a midwife on: 028 9615 1173
This information line is available:
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
- Saturdays, 9am to 1pm
The health of our women, babies, visitors and staff is our biggest priority. We have put in place a number of measures to keep our community safe while providing the highest level of care.
We are trying to reduce the number of people in our hospitals and have provided the following guidance:-
Covid – 19 Guidance for Visitors and Women
- You and your birthing partner will be asked screening questions on entering the maternity building.
- You must supply and wear your own facial mask covering at all times throughout the maternity building.
- You must sanitise your hands on entering the maternity building and again on admission to the individual ward/department.
- We are offering a COVID-19 swab test to everyone admitted to the maternity service. This helps ensure that women in our hospital are safe.
Scan and Antenatal appointments
- One partner may accompany a woman attending:
- Early Pregnancy Unit
- Booking Scan
- 20 week Anomaly Scan
- Fetal Medicine Scan
- Women are required to attend all other outpatient appointments alone
(to protect everyone we cannot welcome children at this time).
Labour and Birth
- One nominated birth partner may accompany a woman in Labour at the Birth/Caesarean Section.
Neonatal Unit
- Two parents or designated carers may provide care for their baby in Special Care Baby Unit or the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PPE will be provided).
Visiting in Antenatal and Postnatal Wards
- To read the latest guidance see: COVID-19 regional principles for visiting maternity services in Northern Ireland
Please also note the following:
- Some antenatal appointments will take place by telephone consultation or video call, with your agreement.
- You may be asked to wait in your car or outside the maternity building until you receive a phone call inviting you into the building for your appointment.
- Please attend antenatal oral glucose tolerance test appointments as scheduled.
Midwife-led antenatal clinics have resumed at the Midwife-Led Clinic in the Mater Hospital. However, women who choose a midwife-led labour and birth will be accommodated at the Active Birth Centre in the Royal-Jubilee Maternity Hospital.
If you have any queries about your Midwife-Led Clinic appointment, please contact the Mater Hospital antenatal team on 028 9504 1288.
We wish to reassure women that we will continue to offer and support midwife-led births in the Royal-Jubilee Maternity Hospital.
We are here to support you and we are very grateful for your flexibility and understanding.
Belfast Trust maternity services
Find out more about the Belfast Trust maternity services here.