Pregnancy care.
During pregnancy, private midwifery care involves regular visits each month, which increase in frequency as your pregnancy progresses. These occur in your home.
At each visit we can check your blood pressure, measure your growing belly and listen to your baby’s heartbeat. We can order any tests or scans you request, and review the results with you.
Building trust is vital for the midwife-family partnership. We can discuss your feelings, plans and concerns around pregnancy, for your birth and parenthood.
Labour and birth in hospital
When it’s time for your baby to be born, we can attend you at home or in hospital.
In the hospital environment, the role of the privately practising midwife is as your supporter and advocate. We will ensure that any interventions offered are explained, and that time is taken for you to consider your options and make informed decisions about your care.
We stay with you for the birth of your baby and for a few hours after-until you are heading home or settled in hospital. This ensures you’ll have care and support for early breastfeeding.
Once you are home, we attend regularly to check in on your baby, and your recovery from birth.
Labour and birth at home
Homebirth has been demonstrated to be a safe and satisfying option for many families. Labour and birth in a home environment, with known and trusted midwives by your side can be an empowering, transformative experience for the whole family.
Midwives are trained to recognise and assist with scenarios that are outside the range of normal. This includes detecting complications for the mother or baby, seeking medical opinions and carrying out emergency measures if necessary. We carry equipment to all homebirths to ensure prompt treatment in the unlikely event of an emergency.
We aim to only intervene in the birth process when necessary. We collaborate with obstetricians, who are specialists in complicated pregnancy and birth, and in surgery. We will always seek your consent before discussing your needs with another healthcare provider.
Postnatal care
Support after birth is essential to your physical and emotional wellbeing.
After the birth of your baby, home visits generally occur every day or two for the first week, as well as day 10, 14, and at 4 and 6 weeks.
During these visits we can discuss your recovery, and identify any additional supports that may be helpful. We can also reflect on your birth, assist with breastfeeding, weigh your baby and undertake or refer for any testing you would like.
Receiving one-to-one continuous postnatal care from your midwife will ensure the transition to parenthood is well supported.