Your preferences, heard
Your birth preferences and what matters to you are clear to every midwife and clinician who cares for you.
About the maternity passport
Share what matters to you, with the team caring for you
What is a maternity passport?
A maternity passport — sometimes called a pregnancy passport — is a short summary of the things your maternity team needs to know about you: what matters to you, your birth preferences, how you communicate, and the support that helps. It works alongside your NHS personalised care and support plan and birth plan, so you can be understood quickly without repeating your story at every appointment — through antenatal care, labour and birth, and afterwards.
Why a maternity passport matters
Pregnancy care involves many people and appointments. A passport sets out your preferences and needs once, so you are cared for the way you want throughout.
Tell your story once
You do not have to explain your needs again and again to each new person you meet along the way.
Adjustments made clear
The reasonable adjustments that help are visible to your team — a legal duty under the Equality Act 2010.
Who might need a maternity passport
One shared summary that works for you, the people supporting you, and your whole maternity team.
You
Your preferences lead, with an easy-read style available, so you are understood without having to repeat yourself.
Birth partners and family
Help complete it together and share who is supporting you, then print, email or hand it over.
Maternity team
Key information in seconds, with clear reasonable adjustments so your preferences are respected on the day.
What goes in a maternity passport
You choose what to include. People commonly add their birth preferences, how they communicate, the reasonable adjustments that help, health and pregnancy information, important people, and their wishes for labour, birth and afterwards. Bring it to your appointments and share it early — print it, email it, or show it on your phone, and update it as your pregnancy progresses.
Maternity passport: frequently asked questions
What is a maternity passport?
A maternity passport is a short summary you share with your midwives and maternity team — covering your birth preferences, how you communicate, what matters to you, and any reasonable adjustments you need during pregnancy, labour and after the birth.
Is a maternity passport the same as a birth plan or personalised care and support plan?
It works alongside them. Your NHS personalised care and support plan and birth plan record the decisions you make with your midwife about antenatal, labour and postnatal care. A maternity passport is a simple way to share your preferences, how you communicate, and the reasonable adjustments you need with everyone who cares for you.
Who is a maternity passport for?
It is for anyone who is pregnant and would like their maternity team to understand their preferences and needs quickly. It is especially helpful for people who want an easy-read format, or who have a learning disability, are autistic, or have communication or sensory needs.
Is it free to make a maternity passport?
Yes. You can create one free with Know Me — including an easy-read style — with no account needed, and choose what to include and who to share it with.
Make a maternity passport
Free to create, with an easy-read style available and no account needed. You decide what to include and who to share it with.