WOMEN registering their pregnancy in Cumbria are now some of the first across the country to have access to electronic maternity notes, all via an app.

The app, which is called ‘Maternity Notes’ and is available to download to a smartphone or tablet, helps women track their pregnancy journey, keep a note of their ante-natal appointments and upload photos of themselves, their bump and eventually their baby.

It also contains lots of information about their baby’s development as they move through their pregnancy, and up to six weeks post-birth. The new system is safer too, with women no longer needing to carry paper maternity notes.

Julie Haigh, Digital Midwife for NCUH who helped develop the app, said: “I’m thrilled with how well electronic maternity notes have been received.

"The teams have worked hard to implement a new system that will benefit so many women across the county, and the community midwives are excited to continue the roll-out.

"We’ve had a lot of lovely feedback from the women who have already registered, and I can’t wait to see how this will be developed in the future.”

Even women who have a smartphone but no data can use NHS WiFi at local GPs, hospitals and the like to access ‘Maternity Notes’ and, for those who do not have a smartphone, the app can be accessed on the website on home PCs or at their local library.

Since going live on April 1, 100 per cent women registering a new pregnancy have signed up to the app through www.ncuh.nhs.uk/maternitybooking.