Health In Pregnancy Service (HiPS)

The Health in Pregnancy Service offers antenatal public health activities throughout the borough.

Its main function is to provide support to midwives by raising awareness among pregnant women and their families of those all important public health messages around safe sleep, fetal movement, smoking cessation, infant feeding, healthy eating and emotional wellbeing.

The team sees women at their 12 week scan in the Antenatal Clinic at Walsall Manor Hospital, completes a health needs assessment and provides practical advice and support, as necessary. Women can have access to practical help up to six months post-delivery.

The service offers a number of antenatal sessions at various locations weekly and there is also the opportunity for women to access these groups at weekends or late evening on specified days.

There are also antenatal plus sessions for first-time mums and teenagers.

A key feature within this service is the rolling six weekly programmes of Mellow Bumps, particularly geared towards pregnant women with additional needs. These sessions have been evaluated as both effective and life changing.