Maternity

We are here to support you and your family with mental health. If you are struggling, you can use our maternal mental health service (MMHS). 

What is the Maternal Mental Health Service?

The Maternal Mental Health Service (MMHS) is here to help you with problems during your pregnancy or after your baby has been born.

You might be struggling with: 

• A traumatic birth

• A loss at any stage in your pregnancy

• An extreme fear of giving birth

• A fear of hospital or medical procedures

• A complicated pregnancy experience (for example IVF)

How can you get referred?

You can refer yourself to the MMHS by:

• Phoning 0191 569 9698. We are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm

• Asking your midwife, doctor, health visitor or GP to refer you

• Online using this form: MMHS referral 

What if it's an emergency or crisis?

This service is not an urgent, emergency or crisis service. For emergency help please call 999.

For urgent mental health support you can call the Crisis Team on 0303 123 1145.

Childbirth is a special time in a person’s life. Sometimes your birth may not go the way you hoped or expected. It is normal to want to talk about your experience or to have questions about your labour.

If you had your baby with us, you can talk about your birth with one of our midwives. 

How can I be referred?

You can refer yourself by filling in this form: Birth Reflection.

When can I get help?

You can get help 6 weeks after you give birth. If it's before that we can't process your referral.

What do I need to tell you?

Please tell us as much as you can about how you're feeling. This is so we can give you the right help.

What will happen next?

After you send the form you will get an appointment with a midwife. This might be a face‑to‑face meeting or a phone call.

If you ask for another service instead, we will send your referral to the right team.

When will I hear back?

You should hear back from us within 7 days. If you don't, please call 0191 569 9698.

Our waiting times are different throughout the year. It depends how many people need help. Please be patient if we ask you to wait a little longer than you'd like. 

What will happen after my session?

Hopefully your session will help you.

If we think you might need some more support, we might refer you to the Maternal Mental Health Service, Talking Therapy or arrange a discussion with a consultant.

If your baby has died, we are very sorry. We know this will be a really difficult time for you. We are here to help. 

We have a team dedicated to helping you at this sad time

Our team includes a Bereavement Lead Midwife. It's their job to help with both short-term and long-term support, information and guidance. 

They can help you if:

• you have had a miscarriage (after you were 14 weeks pregnant) 
• your baby was stillborn (they died before they were born)
• your baby has died soon after they were born 
• you are pregnant and your baby is unlikely to survive when they're born 
• you chose to end your pregnancy because the baby had abnormalities 
• you are pregnant again after experiencing anything listed above

We know you might be facing lots of difficult decisions. We are here to help you. Our Bereavement Lead Midwife can:

• help you understand what needs to be done 
• explain all of your options to you
• answer your questions 
• help with any requests you might have 
• be there if you need to talk 

We can also help with: 

• 4Louis suites. These are special rooms supported by 4Louis so you can spend time together as a family. They are a place for you to create memories that don't feel clinical. 
• Memory boxes. They include ink prints and clay prints of your baby's hands. They are kindly donated by 4Louis. 
• Counselling through our Maternal Mental Health Service or Birth Reflections Service 

Useful links

• 4Louis
• Sands
• ARC
• Remember my baby
• Miscarriage Association
• Tommy’s
• National Bereavement Care Pathways

You can also call our chaplaincy team on 0191 569 9180. 

Our Maternity Unit is on D Floor at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

It is on the Chester Road side of the building. 

The entrance is to the right of Chester Wing Outpatients.

It has a red sign above the door that says "Maternity". 

Use the lift or stairs to go up 1 floor. We are on D Floor. 

You will need to press a buzzer to access the unit. 

While you're having your baby 

You can have up to 2 birthing partners. These are people who are with you while you are in labour.

Only 1 of your birthday partners can stay for the whole time. You can't swap your birthing partners while you're in labour. 

We don't allow any other visitors during this time. 

When your baby has been born

2 adults can visit you at any time. Remember, a new mam will need rest. Try to choose times that help this. 

Only children who are brothers and sisters of your new baby are allowed to visit.