How Do I Access My Pregnancy Notes?
Why accessing your pregnancy notes matters
Your pregnancy notes tell the story of your care: blood pressure readings, scan results, discussions, decisions, concerns, and the journey of your pregnancy and birth. They’re more than paperwork. They’re part of your history, your baby’s history, and sometimes the key to understanding experiences that left questions behind.
Many women decide to request their pregnancy or maternity notes because something didn’t feel quite right during their care. Others simply want clarity, especially after a difficult labour, unexpected intervention, or a complaint. Whatever your reason, accessing your notes is your right - and the process is more straightforward than many people expect.
This guide explains how to access your pregnancy notes in the UK, what you can expect to find in them, and why reading them with support can make all the difference.
(For more information on your rights to medical records, see the NHS guidance on accessing health records.)
What pregnancy notes usually include
During pregnancy and labour, midwives and clinicians record important information such as:
antenatal appointment findings
scan results
blood test results
risk assessments
discussions about birth choices
labour monitoring
medications and interventions
postnatal checks
If your Trust uses digital maternity records instead of a paper handheld file, much of this may be recorded electronically on their system or in an online portal.
Understanding this information can help you make sense of your maternity care - but many families find the language, abbreviations, and clinical decisions difficult to interpret on their own. That’s where independent support can be particularly helpful.
Your legal right to access your pregnancy notes
In the UK, you have the legal right to access your medical records under the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. This includes all pregnancy, labour, and postnatal notes kept by:
NHS hospitals
community midwives
GP surgeries
maternity units
digital maternity record systems
Healthcare providers must give you access within one month, and in most cases, they cannot charge a fee.
You don’t need to give a reason.
You don’t need a solicitor.
You don’t need to explain your motivations.
You simply need to request them.
How to access your pregnancy notes: step-by-step
Here’s a clear, simple guide to help you request your notes confidently.
Step 1: Identify who holds your records
This may include one or more of the following:
the NHS Trust where you gave birth
community midwives attached to that Trust
your GP practice (for antenatal updates shared with them)
If your Trust used a digital system such as BadgerNet or My Pregnancy Notes, some records may be accessible through your online account - but full clinical notes usually require a formal request.
Step 2: Submit a Subject Access Request (SAR)
Your pregnancy notes are part of your medical record, so you will need to make what’s called a Subject Access Request.
This can be done by:
email
an online form (if your Trust provides one)
writing to the Trust’s information governance department
Most NHS Trusts list the SAR email address on their website under “Accessing Medical Records” or “Information Governance”.
When submitting your SAR, include:
your full name
date of birth
NHS number (if known)
hospital number (if known)
your address
approximate dates of pregnancy/birth
a clear request such as:
“I am requesting all maternity records, including antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal notes, under a Subject Access Request.”
Step 3: Provide proof of identity if asked
NHS Trusts must verify your identity to protect patient confidentiality. They may ask for:
photo ID
proof of address
This is standard and helps ensure your records are kept secure.
Step 4: Wait for your notes to be provided
The NHS legally has one calendar month to respond. Many Trusts respond sooner, but some may request a short extension if your records are particularly large.
Your notes may be provided:
electronically (PDF)
as printed pages
via secure file transfer or portal
If anything appears missing, you can ask them to confirm whether additional records exist.
Step 5: Read your notes - but give yourself time
Pregnancy notes can be:
clinical
abbreviated
technical
emotionally triggering for some families
Take your time reading them. You may find them reassuring. Or you may find them confusing, or raising new questions. Both reactions are valid.
If you need help making sense of the notes, independent professional support is available.
Why interpreting pregnancy notes can be difficult
Even with a strong understanding of your birth story, the written notes may feel disconnected from your experience. This is because maternity documentation is written for clinical, legal, and risk-management purposes, often using shorthand that isn’t family-friendly.
For example:
CTG interpretations may reference “baseline variability”, “late decelerations”, or “pathological features”.
Labour progression notes may track cervical dilation timings or changes recorded in brief, coded shorthand.
Decisions may be summarised with minimal explanation of the conversation that took place.
Many families say they felt frustrated or overwhelmed reading their notes alone because the information lacked context and clarity.
That’s completely understandable - your notes weren’t written for you, even though they belong to you.
How independent support can help you understand your pregnancy notes
This is exactly where Eleanor Healer’s Independent Maternity Care Review can make a profound difference.
Eleanor provides detailed, compassionate reviews of pregnancy, labour, and postnatal notes and helps families understand:
what happened during their care
whether guidelines were followed
whether delays or missed opportunities occurred
whether communication was appropriate
why certain decisions were made
whether the care met expected professional standards
Her reports are written in clear, accessible language and are suitable for families who:
felt something wasn’t right
are unsure whether to make a complaint
want support before approaching a solicitor
simply need clarity to help them emotionally process their experience
Learn more about the Independent Maternity Care Review service:
Independent Maternity Care Review
What you can do once you have your notes
Everyone’s next step is different. Some families read their notes and feel reassured. Others realise they need further answers.
Here are your main options:
Ask questions informally
You can contact the maternity unit or the consultant to request clarification.
Make a formal complaint
If you believe your care didn’t meet expected standards, you can submit a complaint to your NHS Trust. More guidance here:
Complaints Support and Guidance
Seek an independent review
If you’re unsure what your notes mean, or whether certain decisions were appropriate, an impartial midwifery review can help.
Independent Maternity Care Review
Seek legal advice
If negligence is suspected, your notes can help determine whether a claim might be appropriate. An independent review beforehand can save time and emotional stress.
Helpful external links
NHS – How to access your health records
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/how-to-access-your-health-records/Birthrights – Factsheets on maternity rights
https://birthrights.org.uk/factsheets/NICE maternity care guidelines
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng194
A final note
Accessing your pregnancy notes isn’t just about paperwork. It’s about understanding, empowerment, and sometimes healing. Whether you’re looking for reassurance, clarity, or the confidence to take your next step, you deserve answers that make sense - and support that feels genuinely compassionate.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for clinical, legal, or psychological advice.