Specialist clinics

We hold a number of specialist clinics in our hospital where you can be seen by a specialist doctor or midwife if this is required.

All clinics are by appointment only.  

Appointments will be arranged by your midwife. They tell you the details of your appointment and why a referral to a specialist clinic has been made.

We also hold a variety of obstetric medicine clinics.

Preterm surveillance clinic

Phone: 020 7188 2300

Address: fetal medicine unit, 8th floor, North Wing, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH

Time: Wednesday

If you are having your baby with us your midwife or obstetrician can refer you. If you’re not having your baby with us, your GP can refer you. 

We provide extra care at this clinic if you're at higher risk of having a baby born too early.

This can be for different reasons, such as:

• previous birth before 34 weeks
• previous late miscarriage
• the 'waters' (amniotic sac) have broken before 34 weeks in a previous pregnancy
• previous surgery to the cervix after an abnormal smear test
• an unusually shaped womb (uterus)
• you're expecting more than one baby

Often we'll see you at the clinic 2 or 3 times and be able to reassure you that your pregnancy is progressing well. You'll then be discharged from the clinic around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Sometimes we may think it is useful to monitor you more regularly. We may be able to offer you treatments that reduce the risk of preterm birth.

Appointments

You'll usually see a midwife at the clinic. They’ll take your medical history and talk to you about your pregnancy care plan.

We may also offer a transvaginal ultrasound scan of your cervix. This involves an ultrasound probe placed into the vagina. Your bladder should be empty for this scan.

If you’re more than 18 weeks pregnant, a vaginal swab test (fetal fibronectin) can help predict your risk of an early birth. This is done with a speculum and then a swab (like a cotton bud) is placed in the vagina for a few seconds.

The test is more reliable if you avoid sex and vaginal douching (flushing your vagina with water for cleaning) for 2 days before your clinic visit.

Your swab result is usually ready after 10 to 25 minutes but sometimes delays happen.

If you think you might be going into labour or need urgent advice, please do not wait for your next clinic appointment. Contact our maternity assessment unit.

Research

We may ask if you want to join one of our research projects at the clinic. Taking part is voluntary and will not affect your care. It may help us improve our care for others in the future.

Hypertension in pregnancy clinic

Phone: 020 7188 8001

Address: Antenatal Clinic, Floor 8, North Wing, St Thomas’ Hospital

Time: Wednesday between 2pm and 5pm

You have been asked to come to the hypertension in pregnancy clinic because:

• you already have high blood pressure
• you were diagnosed with high blood pressure early in pregnancy
• you have a medical condition that means you are more likely to get high blood pressure
• you have protein in your urine or other kidney problems in this pregnancy

Our team of doctors and specialist midwives at the clinic are here to help you manage your hypertension. 

Read more about antenatal hypertension (high blood pressure in pregnancy)

Appointments

At your appointments we will:

• ask you how you are feeling
• check on your baby’s well-being
• measure your blood pressure
• measure the protein in your urine
• occasionally take blood tests to check how your kidneys, liver and blood are working

These tests help us to check that you and your baby are safe. We may recommend you have other tests or treatment.

At the clinic we will get to know your individual needs. We will work with you to plan your care and any treatment you may need to keep you and your baby safe.

We make regular appointments to see you at the hypertension in pregnancy clinic. If your doctor or midwife tells you your blood pressure is too high, or you have checked it at home and it is high, we will want to see you sooner than your next booked appointment.