Maternity
Birth Reflections @ the RUH
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some frequently asked questions that will give you more information about the Birth Reflections service:
What is Birth Reflections?
The Birth reflections service is a confidential midwife-run service. It provides women and their birth partners the opportunity to share and reflect on their birth experience.Women are encouraged to talk through their experiences while they are still in hospital however many find they need time at home adjusting to family life before being able to reflect upon their experience. A birth reflection session can help to obtain a greater understanding of events surrounding the birth; why possible intervention was necessary and any possible implications for future birth.
Why should I have an appointment?
Your birth experience is a unique and personal journey and for some women and birth partners a reflective conversation about the events surrounding birth can help to bring some clarity, understanding and hopefully resolve any unanswered question.
How long is the appointment?
At present we are able to offer 60 minute telephone or face to face appointments.
Where is the appointment
Face to face appointments are offered in the RUH, in Department D7 or in The Hub, Mulberry Park, BA2 5BU. For telephone appointments we recommend you are somewhere comfortable and quiet. You may use speakerphone to include your birth partner.
Can I have an appointment if I had my baby at another hospital?
Yes you can, as long as you are booked to have a subsequent baby with us. You will need to request your notes yourself from the hospital where you had your baby so that they are available to the team in time for your appointment. Please contact the hospital where you birthed to request a copy of your notes.
Where can I have an appointment?
During the pandemic your appointment will be via telephone so please make sure we have your best contact number. It may be worth ensuring you can be somewhere quiet and that your partner can join using the speakerphone setting.
When can I make an appointment?
We cannot offer appointments until your baby is 3 months old as we will not be able access your notes. Please wait until your baby is 3 months old before requesting an appointment.
How to make an appointment?
You can use this link to request an appointment: The team will call you in 2-3 weeks to book the appointment. Please be aware that there can be a delay due to the high demand for this service.
How long do I have to wait?
We are a small team working 1-2 days per week for Birth Reflections; therefore it may take up to 3 weeks before we can call to offer you an appointment. The appointment may be several weeks after that phone call. If you are pregnant again or are concerned that this may be too long to wait please give us as much information as possible in your email and we will prioritise your appointment.
What days can I be seen?
Birth Reflections offers appointments on different days of the week including weekends.
What if I can't make my appointment?
So that we can offer you appointment to someone else, we would be grateful if you would contact us as soon as possible to cancel or rearrange your appointment. Please email us at ruh-tr.birth.reflections@nhs.net or call 07872 696165 (Monday to Friday).What do I need to bring to the appointment?
If your birth was in the RUH then we will request your notes so you just need to answer your phone. If you birth was in another hospital and you have requested a copy of your notes, please could you email a copy to ruh-tr.birth.reflections@nhs.netIt is often useful to write down the questions you have prior to your appointment.
Your feedback
Birth Reflections is a confidential service. If however there is positive feedback about an individual's care, we ask your permission to share that with the individual and/or teams involved. The maternity services at the RUH are always looking for ways to improve care and family experience therefore Birth Reflections collate common themes that can be shared with the relevant teams and develop the service.
Our contact details
If you would like any further information or to make an appointment, please can contact us on ruh-tr.birth.reflections@nhs.net