Guide to NHS Maternity Services in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

If you are pregnant, planning for a baby, or supporting someone who is, knowing what NHS maternity services are available locally and how to access them can make the journey easier. This guide explains the pathway of care before, during and after birth including what’s offered, who can use it, and where to go for support and advice.

What NHS Maternity Services Cover

NHS maternity services support you from early pregnancy through to birth and into the first weeks and months after your baby is born. These include:

• Antenatal care - checks, scans and support during pregnancy
• Birth and labour support - care in hospital or under the NHS system
• Postnatal care - help with recovery, baby health checks and feeding support
• Specialist support - including mental health and trauma support services

These services are free if you are eligible for NHS care in England, usually if you are ordinarily resident here. Pregnant people can self‑refer for maternity care without needing a GP referral. You can start this process online via the NHS pregnancy care referral system. Full details for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough hospitals including self-referral information are available here.

How to Start Your Maternity Care Pathway

1. Self‑Refer for Maternity Care

To begin antenatal care, you can complete an NHS self‑referral for pregnancy care. Once submitted, the midwifery team from your local maternity service will contact you to book your first appointments.

You do not need a GP referral, but registering with a GP is recommended so your full health care is coordinated.

For more information on self-referral visit the NHS website here.

2. Local NHS Maternity Providers

In Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, NHS maternity care is provided through local hospital trusts:

• Peterborough City Hospital Maternity Services (North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust)
• Cambridge maternity services (including The Rosie Hospital) 

Located at Edith Cavell Campus, Bretton Gate, Peterborough, PE3 9GZ. You can self‑refer for NHS pregnancy care here. Peterborough City Hospital main switchboard: 01733 776000 or visit the hospitals contact page here.

Part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Contact via Cambridge University Hospitals main switchboard: 01223 805000 or visit the hospital’s contact page here.

Your chosen provider will support you with scans, antenatal appointments, birth planning and postnatal care.

Who Looks After You During Your Pregnancy

During your pregnancy, your care is usually led by a community midwife at your GP practice or local clinic, who will be your main point of contact for routine check-ups, booking scans, and advice. For low-risk pregnancies, midwives provide most of your care, including antenatal appointments, birth planning, and postnatal follow-up. If your pregnancy is considered higher risk due to health conditions, complications, or previous pregnancy experiences, your care may also involve a consultant obstetrician or a specialist team. In these cases, you will usually have a combination of midwife-led and consultant-led appointments to ensure both you and your baby receive the safest and most appropriate care. 

Your maternity team will explain how your care will be managed, who to contact for questions, and how appointments are scheduled throughout your pregnancy.

Choosing Where to Give Birth

You can choose to give birth at home, in a midwife-led unit or birth centre, or in hospital.

Your choice will depend on your health, pregnancy risk level, and, in some cases, location. Most people can consider any of these options. However, if your pregnancy is higher risk or you have certain medical conditions, it’s safest to give birth in a hospital, where specialists are available if you need treatment during labour.

For low-risk pregnancies, giving birth at home or in a midwife-led unit usually means you’re less likely to require interventions.

Ultimately, it’s your choice and you can change your mind at any time during your pregnancy.

Support After Pregnancy

Health Visiting and Family Support

Once your baby is born, support from health visitors and Family Hubs continues to help with your baby’s development, feeding and wellbeing:

• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Healthy Child Programme offer health visiting, school nursing and child development support including infant feeding advice and Parent & Baby groups. Contact the Health Visiting team at 0300 029 5050 or text 07520 649887 or visit their website here.
• Family Hubs / Start for Life services offer advice, drop‑in support, baby clinics, breastfeeding support groups and parenting groups across the region. Email the Family Hubs team at familyhubprogramme@peterborough.gov.uk to find your nearest centre or do so online here. 

Feeding Support

• The National Breastfeeding Helpline offers free peer support: 0300 100 0212.
• Local breastfeeding networks and infant feeding support groups are listed on the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Healthy Child Programme and Family Hubs webpage  here.

Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Support

Parenthood can bring emotional challenges. NHS services available include:

Perinatal Mental Health Support

• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Perinatal Mental Health Team offers specialist support for moderate to severe anxiety, depression or other mental health difficulties during pregnancy and up to 12 months after birth. Referrals can be made by GPs, midwives or health visitors. 

Perinatal Trauma and Loss Support

• Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service (PTLS) provide therapeutic support for people affected by loss or trauma related to pregnancy or infancy. Speak to your midwife or GP about referral. 

General Mental Health Support

• Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Talking Therapies (part of NHS Talking Therapies) provides treatment for anxiety and depression and is available via self‑referral here.

If you or your partner are in crisis, NHS 111 can connect you to urgent mental health support 24/7.

Helpful NHS and Local Government Links

• Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Maternity & Neonatal Services information - general maternity, pre and post-natal services and baby care services listed here.
• NHS Pregnancy Guide – national information about pregnancy, scans, tests and birth planning available here.
• Midwife, Health Visitor and GP resources – available through your local NHS service and GP surgery.

Local Charities and Support Organisations

• Peterborough & Cambridgeshire NCT Birth, Feeding & You – Peer support for pregnancy, infant feeding and emotional wellbeing, including breast pump hire and community groups. Visit their website here.
• CPSL Mind (Perinatal Services) – Local branch of the mental health charity offering courses and support groups for expecting and new parents’ emotional wellbeing. Visit their website here for more information.
• Home‑Start Cambridgeshire – Supports families with children under five through trained volunteer visitors offering practical and emotional help at home. Visit their website here for more details.
• Barnardo's Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Services – Provides child and family support, early years activities, advice and group sessions for parents and carers. Visit their website here.
• Hampton Tiddlers (part of local community groups) – Stay and play sessions for babies and young children with social support for parents/carers. Follow them on Facebook here.
• The Raham Project – Community support for mothers (especially from ethnic minority backgrounds) focusing on perinatal wellbeing, shared experiences and informal support sessions. Take a look at their website for more details here.
• How Are You (H.A.Y.) Cambridgeshire & Peterborough – Directory of local groups, wellbeing activities and community networks for parents and families. Visit the directory here.
• Little Miracles – Supports families of children with additional needs or life‑limiting conditions, offering counselling, emotional support and activities. Visit their website here.

Other Useful Community Supports

• La Leche League – Breastfeeding information and support available locally by phone or meetings (through local branches). More information is available via their website here.
• Ely Babybank & Fenland Families Baby Bank – Community projects offering essential baby items (clothes, nappies, equipment) for families experiencing financial hardship. Find out more information here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a GP referral to start maternity care?
No, you can self‑refer for NHS pregnancy care online and the maternity team will contact you. 

Who can access these services?
Most families who reside in England can receive NHS maternity care. If you are unsure about your eligibility, speak to your GP.

Get Involved: Share Your Experience

Your local NHS maternity services are shaped by real feedback from people who use them. If you have experience of NHS maternity care in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough, positive or challenging, we’d love to hear from you. Sharing your story helps Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough understand what’s working, what could improve and where local services should focus next.

Tell us your experience today: submit your feedback via the Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough websites linked below.