MOTHERS-TO-BE can now tweet the midwife if they need help or support.

Pregnant mums may not get cycling midwife Miranda Hart from Call the Midwife to help deliver their baby.

But hospital maternity workers hope the project will make it easier for pregnant women, new mums and families to get in contact when necessary.

The project, called Listen and Involve, was set up by midwives at Worthing Hospital and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.

Facebook groups have been set up along with a twitter account, @WSHTmidwives, in a bid to target those who use social media.

Midwives can offer support along with other women going through the same experiences.

Those who prefer face-to-face meetings can go to regular drop in sessions at women and children centres across West Sussex.

Its success was recently recognised when it won the patient, care and public engagement category at the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Academic Health Sciences Network Awards.

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust clinical effectiveness midwife Cate Bell said: “We are using Facebook groups and new technology to ensure all women, including those who in the past have been less likely to get involved such as younger mums, can access support without fear of discrimination or embarrassment.”

The Facebook groups provide a place online where women can meet other women, to share information and support each other.

Groups for young parents and to help weight management have been particularly popular because women in these categories can find it more difficult to engage in traditional group sessions.

Lauren Dennett, 19, who lives with her four-month-old son McKenzie in Southwick, said: “The young parents Facebook group stopped making me feel like I was alone and once you have given birth you are not then turned away. The help is still there when you need it.”

The benefits of the project were explained to an audience of more than 450 people during the awards ceremony in London earlier this month, which included NHS England medical director Sir Bruce Keogh.