Anti-Natal Care

Community midwife (named midwife)

Your community midwife will meet you early in your pregnancy and give you information about types of care. You will see her regularly at the midwife clinic held at your GP's surgery and she will give you details on how to contact her.

if you choose to have your baby at West Suffolk Hospital your midwife or GP will refer you to the hospital under the care of a consultant obstetrician of your choice.

Options for maternity care

Hospital Birth-Shared Care

Under this scheme your general practitioner or community midwife refers you to an obstetrician of your choice based at the West Suffolk Hospital. Most mothers are seen in early pregnancy by their community midwife who completes their booking history and gives relevant information.

You will receive a letter from West Suffolk Hospital within two weeks of them receiving a referral letter from your community midwife/general practitioner, with an appointment to attend one of the antenatal clinics at about 16 weeks of pregnancy.

These clinics are situated at West Suffolk Hospital, St Leonard's Hospital Sudbury, Thetford Cottage Hospital, Newmarket General Hospital, Mildenhall Health Clinic, and Haverhill Health Centre. Your Antenatal Clinic appointments will be arranged for the location most convenient to you (this will, however, depend upon which consultant you have chosen). The first visit consists of an ultrasound scan, booking history by a midwife (if not previously carried out by your community midwife), examination by a doctor, and blood tests. You are likely to be seen at one of these clinics at least three times during your pregnancy. You will meet midwives, your consultant obstetrician or members of the consultant's team, i.e. registrar or senior house officer.

All other antenatal care is provided by your community midwife and/or GP, either at your surgery, health centre or in your home. Your baby will be delivered at the West Suffolk Hospital usually by a midwife.

You and your baby are transferred home to the care of your community midwife and GP. The length of stay in hospital is agreed between yourself, community and hospital midwives.

Hospital Birth-Domino Scheme

'Domiciliary-In-Out' -'Domino' - under this scheme the majority of care is carried out by your community midwife. Booking and antenatal care are as above and your baby is delivered at the West Suffolk Hospital by your community midwife. This depends on her availability as, of course, she also has other commitments in the community. If she is not available you will receive care from hospital midwives. Women choosing to be delivered under this scheme are usually transferred home soon after baby's birth.

Home Birth

If you would like information regarding a home birth please discuss this early in your pregnancy with your midwife. Most women who request a home birth attend the West Suffolk hospital for scans and consultation with an obstetrician. All other antenatal care is provided at your surgery/health centre or in your home.

The majority of GP's do not provide medical cover for home births. If this is your preference two community midwives will attend the birth. Community midwives carry basic resuscitation equipment and in an emergency would transfer you and/or your baby to hospital. Further details regarding your home birth will be discussed nearer the time.

Although you are offered a choice of these three types of care, the safety of you and your baby must be the most important factor. You will be given an opportunity to discuss your requests with your midwife, general practitioner and obstetrician.

Antenatel clinic

Your partner and children are welcome at the Antenatal Clinics. Toys are available but there are no creche facilities.

Record of pregnancy

Your pregnancy records will be given to you by either your community midwife or one of the hospital midwives. It is important that you keep these records safely and take them to all Antenatal Clinics and on admission to hospital. In your pregnancy records is a Care Plan and information check list. This is an opportunity for you to record any special wishes you may have for your pregnancy, labour or postnatal period. Your midwife or doctor will answer any questions.

First clinic visit

On your first visit to the Antenatal Clinic you will be offered an ultrasound scan to confirm your pregnancy and to detect if you are expecting one or more babies. Please make sure that your bladder is full for the scan. You will be offered a further detailed scan at 20 - 22 weeks to check that all is progressing well.

Blood tests will be taken (see section on Maternal blood tests).

You may not see the consultant whose care you are under but you will see one of the 'team'. The team comprises registrar, senior house officer and midwives.

As you leave the clinic you should make your next antenatal appointment.

As mentioned in your letter, this initial appointment may take about one-and-a-half hours . Other visits to the hospital will be shorter.

PLEASE ARRANGE TO SEE YOUR COMMUNITY MIDWIFE OR FAMILY DOCTOR REGULARLY UNTIL THE BABY IS DUE. ALL MOTHERS ARE SEEN AT THE HOSPITAL IF THE BABY IS OVERDUE

Baby's movements

if you notice any change in your baby's movements during your pregnancy or if you are concerned in any way, please contact your hospital team for advice.

Other information

A midwife is available at every Antenatal Clinic to explain, advise and answer any questions. Information is available on other organisations, for example: Twins and Multiple Birth Association, National Childbirth Trust, etc.

Please ask.

Change of address

If you change your address or any of your personal details during your pregnancy, please inform the receptionist at the Antenatal Clinic.