Your Care Plan

ANTENATAL CARE

The first visit lasts about 2 hours, taking your medical and maternity history and planning your care according to your needs, as well as a physical examination with your consent. Any antenatal screening scans and investigations can then be arranged either through the NHS or privately whichever is more suitable to you. Nutrition can also be discussed as hormonal changes often cause problems, and it has an important role to play in preparation for birth.

Further antenatal visits will be arranged to suit you, you and your partner, or you and the family. I will be available for you between visits if you have any concerns. Books, journals, videos, CDs, and research papers can be borrowed if you wish to do so. The idea is to build a relationship that is flexible and sensitive to your requirements, and to ensure that you are offered choices through research based information. The end result should be that you feel confident in your choices and well prepared for birth and parenthood. I can refer you to a variety of complementary therapists if you feel they would be of benefit to you. Should you require or desire to see an obstetrician, I can refer you and come with you if you choose. I am happy to prepare you for parenthood during your antenatal appointments, or if you wish to meet other couples expecting babies around the same time I can provide the necessary details of groups.

 

 

LABOUR AND BIRTH
When you go into labour and you feel you want me to be with you, I will be available and I will be with you throughout the labour and birth of your child. Should you require transfer to hospital or you choose a hospital-based birth I will continue to be with you as your advocate but hospital policies now prevent us from providing the care.
After the birth I will remain with you for a few hours until I am satisfied that you are all well.

 

POST-NATAL CARE

I will visit every day initially, and depending on the time of birth it may be later that day. As new parents it is a tiring and emotional time, and I want to ensure that all remains well, by giving you time and support. I will help to establish breast-feeding and help you learn to care for your baby. You may like to review your care and the birth and any issues about your recovery.
I will monitor the baby’s well-being, perform screening tests if you choose them, and arrange for a medical examination of the baby. I will liaise with your GP and Health Visitor to ensure your on-going care. Visits will be arranged to fit in with your family and as you become more confident as parents the frequency of the visits will be reduced, though I will still be available and only a phone-call away.

 

 

HOME-BIRTH
The benefits of home-birth include:-

  • Your own known comfortable environment
  • A calm, relaxed and loving atmosphere
  • A sense of empowerment for women and their partners
  • Fewer interventions
  • Reduced need for pain relief
  • Less complications
  • Freedom to move around and get into comfortable positions
  • Freedom to eat and drink whatever and whenever you like
  • Privacy to labour, shout, dance, sing
  • Less risk of infection
  • One-to-one midwifery support
  • Family, friends and other children may be present or close by
  • The bliss of your own bed afterwards
  • The use of your own bathroom
  • Fewer problems for babies after birth
  • More successful breast-feeding

 

WATER-BIRTH
The benefits of using water in labour and during birth include:-

  • Most of the above
  • More likely to have a shorter labour
  • Can lower blood pressure
  • Gentle birth for the baby

 

Care Plan 1

 

 

Care Plan 4

  

 

Care Plan 2

 

 

Care Plan 3

 

 

 

 

Care Plan 5

 

 

 

 

Care Plan 6