Specialist Maternity

Liverpool Women's Hospital boasts one of only a few dedicated multiple pregnancy clinics in the country.

In this clinic you will have close monitoring of your pregnancy by a team of doctors, midwives and sonographers who will guide you through this exciting but potentially anxious period.

Our team of specialist midwives will provide all your antenatal care alongside your scans on a single full day clinic. They will also provide antenatal classes specifically for women expecting a multiple pregnancy.

We are dedicated to combating multiple pregnancy complications and you will be invited to take part in research during your visits.

Being pregnant, particularly in the early stages and after previous miscarriages, can be an anxious time. That’s why it is reassuring to know that at Liverpool Women’s there is a dedicated unit for assessing women in the early stages of pregnancy who are experiencing some problems. The unit, which is open Monday to Friday, between 8am and 4pm, is located on the ground floor of our Crown Street site via the entrance to the emergency room. If you have concerns outside of these opening times, please contact the emergency room on 0151 702 4140 or 0151 708 9988 ext 4583.

Who should attend?

Women should attend the unit if they are between six and 12 weeks pregnant and are experiencing slight vaginal bleeding and are in minimal pain. Patients who have visited the emergency room first are given early pregnancy assessment appointments with 72 hours of visiting. We also provide a service for women who have had an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage before and are seeking reassurance. In these circumstances you can refer yourself for this service. Referrals can also be made via your GP, community midwife, consultant or gynaecology ward.

Consultant-led assessments

Consultant-led clinics in the unit are also held on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings for women who are more than 12 weeks pregnant. A clinic for molar pregnancies – a rare complication of pregnancy occurring at conception – is held on Thursday afternoon between 1.30pm and 4.30pm. For more information and support regarding molar pregnancies visit www.molarpregnancy.co.uk.

We provide a comprehensive service to investigate and treat recurrent pregnancy loss as well as supporting women throughout their pregnancy. A lot of women are referred to us from outside our catchment area, from across the North of England and further afield within the UK, reflecting our expertise in this area. There are several sessions held each week by the miscarriage clinic team. Research is carried out in our miscarriage clinic by ourselves and with other organisations, which is why research fellows form part of the clinic’s clinical team.

About the clinic

This is a specialist clinic dedicated to preventing preterm birth.  In 2015 Liverpool Women’s Hospital and the University of Liverpool secured a £1 million grant to fund our Harris-Wellbeing Preterm Birth Centre for 5 years.  This centre carries out research into ways to predict and prevent preterm birth. Through our clinic we work with women at high risk of preterm birth to give them the best possible chance of a healthy pregnancy.

Who should attend?

We normally see women between 16 and 28 weeks of pregnancy who have the following risk factors for preterm birth:

• Previous spontaneous birth or rupture of membranes under 34 weeks of pregnancy

Either of the following treatments performed in the hospital for some women after a smear test:

• Previous knife cone biopsy of cervix
• Two or more previous LLETZ or loop excisions of the cervix

Some women need to have preterm birth prevention treatment earlier in pregnancy than 16 weeks, and in these cases we see women from about 10 weeks of pregnancy.

We also see other small groups of women who are identified on an individual basis - if you think you should be seen in pregnancy please discuss with your midwife or obstetrician and we will be happy to discuss cases.

What happens in the clinic?

The clinic takes place every Thursday between 1.30pm and 4.30pm, and is located on the ground floor of our Crown Street site. The telephone number is 0151 702 4072.

Women are seen by a doctor with an interest in preterm birth.  A detailed history is taken about the woman’s health, pregnancies and risks for preterm birth.  Most women then have an internal scan to assess the cervix (‘neck of the womb’).  An individualised plan is then made with the woman about her risk of preterm birth, need for further screening, and need for preterm birth prevention treatments.

Who is available in the clinic?

Women are offered support through the process by our team of experienced midwives and health care assistants.

We are also privileged to have a group of volunteers who are available during clinic time to offer peer support if required.  This group organises a 'Closed Facebook group' for patients and past patients of the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Fetal Medicine Unit, Preterm Labour Clinic.

The team of doctors are led by Professor Zarko Alfirevic, a world leading expert on preterm birth.

Where can I find out more about the preterm birth research centre?

Please visit the Wellbeing of Women website.