Antenatal Care
Preconceptual Care
If you are planning to or trying to get pregnant then you might want to read through our attached document on preconceptual care. Click here for more information on Preconceptual care
Antenatal Care
Antenatal care is the care that you receive from health professionals during your pregnancy. It includes information on services that are available and support to help you make choices that are right for you. You should be able to access antenatal care services that are readily and easily available and sensitive to your needs. During your pregnancy you should be offered a series of antenatal appointments to check on your health and the health of your baby. During these appointments you should be given information about your care. Your midwife should give you information in writing or in some other form that you can easily access and understand. If you have a physical, cognitive or sensory disability, for example, they should provide you with information in an appropriate format. A record should be kept of the care you receive. You should be asked to keep your maternity notes at home with you and to bring them along to all your antenatal appointments. You have a right to take part in making decisions about your care. The antenatal care in Guernsey is operated on a shared care basis. This can be quite confusing but essentially what it means is that the care will be shared by the midwives, GPs and specialist Obstetricians.
To make yourself aware of the process and who you will need to see at various stages of your pregnancy you can refer to the linked document below written by the Department of Health and Social Services to assist in understanding maternity services in Guernsey. This document also covers your choice of birth methods. The most obvious and common choice is to have your baby in the Princess Elizabeth Hospital. However, it is important to point out that you do have the choice to have a home birth. This is not readily pointed out to you by the midwives as it is not their policy to offer this. However, should you choose this option the policy is such that they will have to support you in this.
The one area that we found was not covered in the document provided by the Health Department was the choice that parents have to arrange for an additional nuchal fold scan in addition to the usual scans mentioned in the above document. Therefore, we thought that we should mention a little about this. Generally this is an area of concern for women over 35 who’s risks of chromosomal abnormalities are higher. If having read the information below you feel you would like to know more then speak to your midwife or consultant. There is a cost for this additional scan and blood test and the prices can be obtained from the Medical Specialist Group.
Click here for more information on The Nuchal Fold Scan
Many pregnancies will go to full-term smoothly and without a hitch. Sometimes however things do not go to plan and below we have provided fruther information about areas that give cause for concern for most expectant Mums.
Click here for more information on Miscarriage
Support during your Pregnancy
As well as visiting your community midwife and specialist obstetritians during your pregnancy you can also attend many of the classes that are on offer at the hospital and through the local branch of the NCT. These antenatal parent craft classes cover a whole raft of information from relaxation techniques, hyno birthing, breastfeeding, waterbirth and general parenting information and advice to help you prepare for childbirth and the care of your new baby. To find out more about the classes please see the attached document and of course speak to your midwife. Parent Craft Classes
Birthing Options
In Guernsey you have a choice in terms of the type of birth you would like to have. These options are best discussed with your community midwife in order to assist you with writing your birth plan and considering your options. However in brief:
Waterbirth
At the hospital a waterbirth pool is available for those who wish to take this option. There is a leaflet on this as well as an antenatal class specific to this subject. Discuss this with your midwife and she will advise and guide you accordingly.
Hypno Birthing
This is a type of self hypnosis that teaches you to relax and achieve a state of relaxed concentration. There is an additional charge for these classes and therefore if you are considering this as a birth option then you should discuss again with your midwife and read the attached leaflet about Hypnobirthing
Home Birth
As we have said earlier you have a right to request home birthing but it will not be offered to you automatically by the midwives. If you do choose to home birth the midwife team will have to support your decision. You will not be given any information on home births by the midwife team and therefore your best course of action is to do your own research. A good site that we found was www.homebirth.org.uk This is a good reference site to start with and answers most of the initial questions that you may have. There are some people on Guernsey who have opted for home birth and another way to find out more may be to post a question on our chatroom GUERNSEY GRAPEVINE.
Whichever option you take regarding your birth choice you will have a midwife caring for you throughout the birth of your baby. This will not be the same midwife you have had during your antenatal visits with the community team. If there is a need, as a result of an identified medical problem, you will have the on call obstetrician available should you require specialist care. They will also attend if requested to do so by your midwife if there are any concerns about your baby or you during labour.
Further useful areas of information:
Please feel free to contribute to this article by contacting us. Or share any advice or experience on this subject. CLICK HERE to join the Guernsey Grapevine.