Somerset's Midwives Can Now Offer Women A New Early Pregnancy Support Service, UK

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 21 May 2009 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Women in Somerset now have a new source of expert information and advice available to them as soon as they know they are pregnant.

After missing a monthly period, and possibly testing with a home pregnancy kit, the first step for many women is to visit their GP.

Getting proper health advice and information as soon your pregnancy is confirmed can increase the likelihood of your pregnancy and baby's birth being a safe and happy one and now Somerset women now have a choice.

You can ask your practice to make an appointment for you to be seen directly by a midwife or you can choose to see your GP first if you wish.

The practice can arrange for you to be seen directly by a community or team midwife who will...

- Discuss your medical history. This is important, especially if you suffer from a condition such as diabetes or epilepsy, where some changes may need to be made to medication.

- Discuss any previous pregnancy complications that might mean you need a scan. This could be a previous history of an ectopic pregnancy, a genetic disorder or Downs syndrome.

- Check your blood pressure.

- Give you information on maternity services in your area so that you can decide where to give birth to have your baby.

- Ensure you are taking folic acid if you aren't already doing so.

- Help you to eat healthily and avoid anything that might be harmful in pregnancy

Lucy Watson, Deputy Director of Nursing and Patient Safety said: "When women find they are pregnant they need as much help and advice as possible. Community midwives are a wonderful source of information and expectant and young mums should try to visit one as early as possible.

"Midwives are trained professionals and help many hundreds of women and babies each year. They are aware of the issues and anxieties that mums-to-be experience through the various stages of their pregnancy and know exactly how to help the baby develop normally and go on to have a safe delivery", said Ms Watson.

Source
NHS Somerset

• Additional
• References
• Citations