One of the country's busiest maternity hospitals has launched a comprehensive new guide for expectant parents.

Over 7,800 babies were born in Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) last year and the new guide includes information on pregnancy, labour, birth and parenthood. It also includes all the information given to women and their partners while attending classes at the hospital prior to giving birth.

"The midwives giving the preparation for birth and beyond programme felt that they needed to provide those attending the course with a comprehensive handbook to use as a reference source during and after the course and the guidebook was developed.

"I hope that all those attending CUMH's programme will find the handbook a valuable source of reliable information during and after their pregnancy," explained midwife and editor of the guide, Cathy O'Sullivan.

She noted that research has shown that women attending antenatal classes ‘want to take home written information'.

"We want all expectant mothers and their partners to be fully informed of the joys, tribulations and choices they will encounter during pregnancy, labour, giving birth, after the birth in hospital and looking after themselves and the baby at home. Expectant mothers and their partners reviewed draft copies of the booklet and their first-hand experience gave us great insight into the guide's development," Ms O'Sullivan said.

Also speaking about the guide, CUMH's acting director of midwifery, Olive Long, said that CUMH is a ‘very busy hospital and each expectant mother has her own unique experience'.

"However, the better informed women are on pregnancy and giving birth, the better their experience should be. Our midwives, medics, physiotherapists, dietiticians, social workers, administrators and all other staff are also on hand to every woman and her family seeking further information during their pregnancy and beyond," she noted.

The guide can be viewed here

For more information on pregnancy, see our Pregnancy Clinic here