As a Midwife in private practice, I am qualified to provide your antenatal care, attend your labour and birth, then look after you and your baby for 6 weeks after birth. I also work in collaboration with local GP Obstetricians, Obstetricians and hospitals as necessary, to ensure you have all options available to you, should you or I have any concerns with regards to your health at any time.
Antenatal care
Your antenatal (or pregnancy) care appointments will all be done in your own home, at a time that suits you, your family and myself. I commence your pregnancy care as soon as you contact me to engage my services - it is never too early!
I provide you with a Midwifery care folder & paperwork at our booking appointment and I will update it with your progress at each visit.
My preferred schedule of antenatal visits is monthly from booking until 32 weeks, then fortnightly until 38 weeks, and then weekly until you give birth. For most clients, this works out to around 10-12 pregnancy appointments. I allow 1-2 hours for every appointment so there is plenty of time to talk, answer questions, do your check-up and documentation.
Your antenatal home visits will include;
I provide you with a Midwifery care folder & paperwork at our booking appointment and I will update it with your progress at each visit.
My preferred schedule of antenatal visits is monthly from booking until 32 weeks, then fortnightly until 38 weeks, and then weekly until you give birth. For most clients, this works out to around 10-12 pregnancy appointments. I allow 1-2 hours for every appointment so there is plenty of time to talk, answer questions, do your check-up and documentation.
Your antenatal home visits will include;
- referral for ultrasounds
- collection of blood tests
- blood pressure checks
- abdominal palpation - to feel the position and presentation of baby, as well as growth and movements
- doppler or fetoscope auscultation of your baby's heart rate
- urinalysis
- antenatal education & provision of reading material
- fundal height measurement (measuring the size of your uterus with a tape measure)
- birth pool, pump and liner loan at 37-38 weeks if planning a home water birth
Labour and birth care
I am potentially on-call for 5 weeks - 24 hour/ 7 day a week for your birth from 37 - 42 weeks pregnancy (and sometimes longer). I will also arrange a second Midwife to be available for this same period as your backup who will be called to attend your homebirth when it is imminent.
Once labour has established and you call me to attend you, care involves monitoring of progress, baby's wellbeing, as well as physical and emotional support for both you and your partner.
I request all home birth clients book into their local maternity hospital as a precaution, just in case the need for transfer ever arises.
Following a homebirth, I will stay for a further 4 hours to ensure both you and your baby remain safe and well. If there are any perineal tears that require suturing, this will also be done soon after birth.
Once labour has established and you call me to attend you, care involves monitoring of progress, baby's wellbeing, as well as physical and emotional support for both you and your partner.
I request all home birth clients book into their local maternity hospital as a precaution, just in case the need for transfer ever arises.
Following a homebirth, I will stay for a further 4 hours to ensure both you and your baby remain safe and well. If there are any perineal tears that require suturing, this will also be done soon after birth.
Postnatal care
Following your baby's birth, I visit you at home for 6 weeks to ensure you and your baby are supported through your early weeks together. My postnatal checkups are usually around 60-90 minutes long and occur daily for the first five days after birthing, then on day 7, day 10, day 14, 4 weeks and final discharge visit at 6 weeks (usually 10 postnatal visits).
Postnatal home visits include;
Postnatal home visits include;
- breastfeeding support & breast care
- baby weighs
- newborn examination
- maternal physical postpartum checkups
- vitamin K administration for baby with consent
- newborn screening test (48-72 hours)
- prescription for relevant medications if necessary
- contraception advice. prescription if desired at final 6 week check
- breast pump loan if necessary