Royal Devon Maternity Hospital Exeter

27/03/2026

There have been several reports of chickenpox in our region.
If you are concerned you have been in contact with a person with chicken pox and you have NOT had chickenpox yourself then please speak to your community midwifery team who can advise and check your immunity status.

If you have had chicken pox as a child or previously then you will normally be immune and it is not a cause for concern.

If you develop a chicken pox rash and have not had the virus before please speak to your GP.

For further information please see

Chickenpox in pregnancy patient information leaflet

17/03/2026

Here are our latest face-to-face Antenatal Feeding Class dates. To book on please call our ward clerks between 9:00 – 15:30 Mon-Fri on 01392 406 688. If possible, please have your NHS or Hospital number ready when you phone. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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