Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care system
Staff Zone
Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care system

Preparing for pregnancy

Ready for pregnancy

Ready for pregnancy is a campaign to raise awareness of how women’s health when they are pregnant impacts and their baby throughout their pregnancy and birth.

Ready for pregnancy

We are supporting the #ReadyforPregnancy campaign! This is a unique collaboration between areas  from across the South East region, working with the shared objective to raise awareness of how women’s health when they get pregnant affects them and their baby not only throughout their pregnancy, but also at birth. The following are the main focus areas of the campaign:

  • taking regular exercise
  • eating a healthy diet
  • starting pregnancy at a healthy weight
  • stopping smoking
  • taking folic acid to prepare for your pregnancy
  • looking after your mental health
  • cutting out of alcohol
  • helping your fertility
  • checking your vaccinations are up to date
  • learning more about breastfeeding
  • learning more about pregnancy, birth and parenting
  • understanding the implications of existing health conditions, such as diabetes
are you ready for pregnancy
Download the Easy Read information

We have the campaign booklet available in a number of languages, please access as required.

We have the campaign booklet available in a number of languages, please access as required:

  • Arabic
  • Bengali
  • Chinese
  • Hindi
  • Nepali
  • Polish
  • Punjabi
  • Romanian
  • Urdu

Find out more about this campaign at: southeastclinicalnetworks.nhs.uk/readyforpregnancy

Preexisting health conditions

Further information on existing health conditions before pregnancy.

Preexisting health conditions

It is important to tell your GP, obstetrician and/or midwife about any pre-existing physical or mental health conditions. This also includes any previous surgery (including cosmetic procedures) or any childhood conditions or health problems which you have now recovered from. This information helps the team assess if anything further is needed to keep you and your baby healthy during the pregnancy.

Please see advice before for health conditions:

There is a service called the Thames Valley Maternal Medicine Network which ensures women with significant medical problems receive timely, specialist care and advice before, during and after pregnancy.

Healthy start

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

More information

Thames Valley Maternal medicine network

A service for women with acute and chronic medical problems will have access to specialist advice and care at all stages of pregnancy.

Thames Valley Maternal Medicine Network

The Thames Valley Maternal Medicine Network is a series of hospitals across the Thames Valley patch which work together to provide all women with significant medical problems timely, specialist care and advice before during and after pregnancy.

Normally all women with complications during pregnancy will be seen at their local maternity services. If your specialist, GP, Obstetrician, or midwife feels that you have, or are at risk of getting, a medical problem during pregnancy, you will be referred to either:

  • Your local unit maternal medicine consultant based at your local hospital
  • Thames Valley Maternal Medicine Centre based which is based in Oxford University Hospitals.

If referred to the centre you will be seen by a consultant physician and consultant obstetrician supported by a maternal medicine midwife. The maternal medicine centre will work with a range of professions based on your condition, working together to ensure you received the best care and advice for you and the baby throughout all stages of the pregnancy.

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