Royal Devon Maternity Hospital Exeter

06/03/2026

Congratulations to the New year 2026 January and February families for Royal and Devon Eastern site.

04/03/2026

Important Message for anyone under the care of Magnolia Team.

If you are trying to contact Tiverton hospital the phone lines are currently down.

We are working on fixing this as soon as possible but if you are trying to speak to a Magnolia Team midwife please message through the Mychart app and they will monitor this service throughout the day.

As always if you need to speak to a Midwife urgently or have any concerns about your baby please call Maternity Triage line 01392 406616.

25/02/2026

Our staff are here to help and support you throughout your pregnancy journey. We will not tolerate any sort of abusive or aggressive behaviour. Please respect all our staff. Thankyou

13/02/2026

✨ *Are you 36+ weeks pregnant or had a baby in the last year? We’d love to hear from you – and you could win a £100 One4all voucher!* ✨

If you’re currently 36+ weeks pregnant or up to 1 year post-birth, please take a few minutes to complete our short survey. Your feedback will help us improve pelvic health support for birthing people during pregnancy and after birth 💛

As a thank you, you’ll be entered into a draw to win a £100 One4all voucher! 🎉

Your voice really matters and will help shape better care for future families.

👉 Share your feedback here:

https://forms.office.com/e/7BYxJHxFgQ

Thank you for supporting improvements in pelvic health around birth!

11/02/2026

Resharing the November statistics for Eastern site as we accidentally missed off the number of boys and girls! Sorry!
Also here are our December end of year babies and families! Congratulations to all.

10/02/2026

Jaundice can be difficult to recognise in babies of black and brown ethnicities. Here is a great infographic for parents to help identify jaundice. Please always contact your midwife if you have concerns.

03/02/2026

Great news!
We now have a card reader available for ultrasound photo donations. Cash is still accepted if you prefer.
You’ll find the card reader in Clinic 1, just outside the scan rooms and opposite the fish tank.
Donations for ultrasound photos remain optional, with a suggested donation of £5.00 per photo.
The amount on the card reader can be increased or decreased - simply tap your card and adjust to the donation you wish to make. If you need any assistance, please speak to a member of staff.
We are very grateful for any contribution you are able to make.

A kind reminder
To help us maintain a calm, safe, and supportive environment, we kindly ask that you attend your appointment with one other adult only, and without children.
This helps us to:
Reduce infection risks
Ensure a focused and uninterrupted appointment
Be sensitive to those who may be experiencing difficult or sensitive circumstances in their pregnancy

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation

02/02/2026

The way you access maternity services at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital is changing.
Previously, if you needed to book an initial appointment, you would need to contact one of our midwives directly, based on your location and/or your GP.
From Monday 2 February 2026, the process is changing to an online self-referral form, where you’ll just need to put in your details and submit the form on the Royal Devon website.
This will help to simplify the process of accessing antenatal care in Exeter and East Devon and will also align us with the process already in place in North Devon.

Welcome to Exeter and East Devon Maternity Services. We are delighted to welcome you to our Trust and we look forward to supporting you throughout your pregnancy journey.In order for us to understand your personal and individual needs, please fill in the Self-Referral Booking Form and answer the que...

30/01/2026

📣 Update for our maternity service users at RDUH East and North

We’re updating to the new National Maternity Early Warning Score (MEWS) across our maternity services.

MEWS is a nationally recommended system that helps midwives and doctors spot early signs that someone is unwell during pregnancy, labour and postnatal.

It involves routine checks such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature, breathing rate and oxygen levels. These are checks we already perform but we will be using the new nationally agreed parameters for these observations.

✨ What does this mean for you?

You or your birthing partner may be asked some additional questions when having your observations checked

It helps us respond earlier and more effectively if concerns arise

It supports consistent, high-quality care across all maternity services

This change is all about keeping you and your baby safe and making sure any changes in your health are picked up as early as possible.

If you have any questions, please speak to your midwife or a member of the maternity team—we’re always happy to explain 💬

24/01/2026

⚠️ Product recall: Aptamil First Infant Formula

Danone is recalling a batch of Aptamil First Infant Formula because cerulide toxin has been found in the product.

Cereulide can cause rapid onset of nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. It’s unlikely to be destroyed by boiling water or cooking.

Even if your baby seems well, it is essential to stop using affected products. If the formula was prescribed by a health professional, consult a pharmacist or other medical professional before changing formula.

For more information and what to do next, visit: https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-03-2026

19/01/2026

When should I start to feel movement?
Most women and birthing people usually begin to feel their baby move between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy.

How often should my baby move?
There is no set number of normal movements. Get to know your baby's individual regular pattern of movement

What should I do if I notice reduced movement?
If you think your baby’s movements have slowed down or stopped call your maternity unit or midwife immediately. The maternity unit is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Don't put off calling until the next day or wait until your next scheduled appointment.

What if my baby’s movements are reduced again?
You should contact your maternity unit again, however many times it happens. Even if everything was normal last time, don't hesitate to contact your midwife or maternity unit for advice. You're always doing the right thing.

Why are my baby’s movements important?
A reduction or change in a baby’s movements can be an important warning sign that a baby is unwell. Around half of women who had a stillbirth noticed their baby’s movements had slowed down or stopped. It's NOT true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy

You should continue to feel your baby move right up to the time you go into labour and whilst you are in labour too.

Should I prompt my baby to move?
As it can cause a delay in getting medical advice, do not use ice, fizzy drinks etc to make your baby move, always call your maternity unit.

What if my baby’s movements reduce again after check up?
If, after your check up, you are still not happy with your baby’s movements, you must contact either your maternity unit or midwife straight away, even if everything was normal last time. NEVER HESITATE to contact your maternity unit or midwife for advice, no matter how many times this happens.

Should I use a phone app or home doppler to check the baby's heartbeat?
Do not use hand-held monitors, Dopplers or phone apps to check your baby’s health. Even if you hear a heartbeat, this does not mean your baby is well.

13/01/2026