The National Maternity Hospital

Individual Dietitian Consultations for Pregnant Women and Newborns

Pregnant Women

Pregnant women with a dietary problem that needs assessment or individual advice on nutrition will be offered an individual consultation with a dietitian who is an expert on nutrition in pregnancy.

  • Your doctor or midwife will refer you to the Nutrition and Dietetics Service with your permission if an individual consultation is advised.
  • You will be seen by a dietitian either during your hospital stay or as an outpatient. Your outpatient appointment may be in person or virtual depending on your needs.  
  • The dietitian will check your weight and height for you, so please wear shoes that are easy to take off.

Examples of dietary issues that need assessment:

  • If you have diabetes (Visit Specialist Maternity Care)
  • If you have been very sick and are not managing to eat or drink, i.e. hyperemesis.
  • If you are a teenager and still growing yourself.
  • If you were on a special diet before pregnancy or have special medical needs (e.g. a metabolic disorder such as Phenylketonuria (PKU), cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease) or previous surgery on your stomach or bowel)
  • If you are underweight or not gaining enough weight.
  • If you are overweight or gaining too much weight.
  • If you have low levels of important nutrients (e.g. anaemia, low vitamin or mineral levels).
  • If you have a history of an illness or condition that might have an effect on your nourishment.
  • Your unborn baby is not growing as expected.

Newborns

The Dietitian working with the Neonatology Department provides specialist advice on nutrition for babies. The service is provided as individual inpatient or outpatient consultations and classes. 

This service is for babies with a specific nutritional issue or concern about their growth while in the Neonatal Unit or attending the Baby Outpatient Clinic under the care of a hospital consultant. You baby may be referred to a dietitian if there is a concern about their nutrition or growth.

Your baby’s Hospital doctor or nurse will refer your baby to a dietitian if there is a concern about their nutrition or growth.

  • The dietitian will either review your baby during their hospital stay or will offer an outpatient consultation.
  • If your baby is offered an outpatient appointment, details of when and where this appointment will take place will be on an appointment letter sent to your home.
  • If you are concerned about your baby’s nutrition or growth after your baby is discharged from the Hospital, or if you have questions about feeding your baby, contact your baby’s local public health nurse or GP for advice. They may be able to refer your baby to a community based dietetic service, or if necessary, they may refer your baby to a hospital clinic, which may then refer your baby to that hospital’s dietitian.

Please note, the Neonatology Nutrition and Dietetics Service is only available for babies under the care of an NMH consultant and referrals can only be accepted from NMH staff.