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Maternity and neonatal

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Information and support to prepare you for pregnancy, labour, birth and the early days of parenting.

We are constantly looking to improve what we do and users of our service play a big part in this so please contact us to get involved. We welcome your comments on what you think we did well and where we could do better.

baby holding its foot

I'm pregnant - what happens now?

I'm ready to register with maternity services

You can register with a midwife by contacting one of our community maternity teams in Highland or in Argyll and Bute.

I'm unsure about continuing with my pregnancy

If you have an unintended pregnancy, are considering abortion and are looking for help and advice, you may self-refer to the Social Gynaecology Service:

phone 01463 705 667

You can also get help from:

It is best to seek help as soon as is practical, as the staff within the Social Gynaecology clinic would like to see you early in your pregnancy - as soon as six weeks since your last period. If you are experiencing delays in discussing your situation, it may be best to use this self-referral service.

Safe Access Zones

Safe Access Zones are now in place everywhere that abortion services are provided in Scotland. Within a Safe Access Zone, it’s illegal to try to influence, harass, or prevent anyone from accessing or providing abortion services.

In the NHS Highland area, Raigmore Hospital (Inverness) is a Safe Access Zone. There are 30 Safe Access Zones across Scotland.

About maternity and neonatal care at NHS Highland

Our staff are committed to working in partnership with you to provide you and your family with a safe, friendly, and effective service. We aim to deliver high quality maternity and neonatal care for all women and their families during pregnancy, labour and after the birth of your baby.

A named midwife will support you through your pregnancy. She will co-ordinate your care and explain all of your options for care and birth choices to you. Finding a midwife to help you through your pregnancy is easy. If you know you are pregnant, visit your GP practice and ask for an appointment with a midwife or you can refer yourselves directly to our maternity services.

You may find information in these sections useful when talking with your midwife at your booking appointment, which usually takes place around eight weeks into your pregnancy. It can help support any choices and decisions regarding your pregnancy in the beginning.

See also:

Last updated: 21 November 2025

Next review date: 24 November 2025