Maternity Matters is a national policy that will ensure that, by the end of 2009, all pregnant women will be able to choose the type of care that they receive, with better access to services and continuity of midwifery care.
It builds on the commitment outlined in Our Health, Our Care, Our Say and is an important step towards meeting the maternity standard set out in the Children’s National Service Framework.
Maternity Choices for you
Maternity care in England is very safe but not all women have the same choice of services. Maternity Matters guarantees that by December 2009 women should have a choice of:
- Access to maternity care and direct access to a midwife
- Type of antenatal care
- Place of birth – a home birth, in a local facility with midwife support or in a hospital supported by a local maternity care team
- Place of postnatal care
In addition, every woman will be supported by a midwife she knows and trusts throughout her pregnancy and after birth.
As well as the local options, you could choose to use NHS maternity services outside your area.
Find out more
Find out about local services, where to have your care and who you would like to provide it by visiting NHS Choices.
View NHS Choices film - a guide to maternity services - the film may take some time to download, depending on your internet connection speed.
Other useful information
Downloads
Infant and maternal mental health services across the North West mapping provision 2008
Knowsely integrated perinatal and infant mental health-care pathway Mar11
PIMH_SurveySummary Jan2011
Stockport Integrated Care Pathways for Antenatal and Postnatal Mental Health 2008
Your mental health during pregnancy leaflet UHMB
Pathway 1 April 10
Pathway 2 April 10 revised dec 10
Pathway 3 Mild to Moderate on medication or no medication April 10
Pathway 4 Pregnant women aged under 18 years at booking April 10
Pathway 5 SMI April 2010
Pathway 6 CMHT April 2010
Perinatal Guidelines April 2010
1 Maternal Mental Health BOOKING GUIDELINE updated (CUMBRIA) Feb 2011
2 MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH CARE PATHWAY UHMB (SOUTH LAKES) review Nov 2013
MMH Referral Route Guideline 3 CUMBRIA Feb 2011
Progressive maternal mental health Care Pathway 2- CUMBRIA Feb 2011
Universal 1 Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathway CUMBRIA Feb 2011