New Clinics Supporting Mums-To-Be in Gainsborough

Additional support to help pregnant women lead a healthier lifestyle is now available in Gainsborough.

Bumps and Beyond is holding weekly sessions at John Coupland Hospital to give information and advice to pregnant women with a BMI of 35 or above.

The service, which is run by Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), has expanded its clinics after successfully launching in Lincoln, Boston and Grantham.

Bumps and Beyond's healthy lifestyle midwives and advisors aim to help women avoid excessive weight gain in pregnancy, which would in turn lower the risk of complications, such as raised blood pressure, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and the chances of having a caesarean section.

The programme includes a series of one-to-one antenatal appointments with a Bumps and Beyond advisor.

Ailsa McGiveron, Healthy Lifestyle Midwife Lead for LCHS, said: "Bumps and Beyond has supported more than 1,000 pregnant women in Lincolnshire in the last two years, and we're looking forward to helping more women to experience a happy and healthy pregnancy with our expansion to Gainsborough.

"Many of you will have heard about pregnancy meaning you can eat for two. It's one of many myths we hope to bust with this programme, which also covers a range of other topics which contribute to a healthier lifestyle."

Earlier this year, Bumps and Beyond received a national runner-up award for its contribution to public health from the Royal College of Midwives.

Anyone interested in taking part in the Bumps and Beyond programme in Gainsborough, Lincoln, Grantham or Boston should speak to their midwife or contact the service directly on 01522 574173.