New antenatal service for expectant mothers

This month, a new antenatal service is being piloted for expectant mothers with a BMI of 30+ who are due in May 2017. This service is brand new and aims to create a supportive, non-judgemental environment for women to receive their antenatal care, which has a focus on pregnancy and postnatal wellbeing.

This pilot service, known as the Pregnancy and Early Years Healthy Weight Project, will give women more contact time with their midwife and at each care session, women will have their routine antenatal check-up. There will be one-to-one time with the midwife, but the sessions focus mainly on coming together as a group. In this environment, women can learn more about their pregnancy, gain support with making healthy lifestyle choices and have plenty of time to prepare for childbirth and beyond.

Clara Southby, Specialist Midwife at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and Project Lead Midwife, said: “Women who join the Pregnancy and Early Years Healthy Weight Project can expect a fresh approach to antenatal care. Group antenatal care focuses on pregnancy wellbeing and the opportunity to get to know local women who are expecting a baby in the same month.

“It is a ‘one stop shop’ for antenatal care, which includes support with making healthy pregnancy choices and preparing for childbirth and parenting. We know that pregnancy and the few years after can be a time when women really struggle with their weight. Additional support in pregnancy and beyond has been shown to help women to not gain excessive amounts of weight in pregnancy and afterwards. This can help to reduce the risk of having a very big baby or needing a caesarean.”

Alongside the care sessions, there will be a weekly pregnancy exercise class, designed for complete beginners, which will be run by midwife Ali Farah; a certified pre and postnatal fitness instructor.  Ali’s programme is designed to be fun, whilst developing fitness, improving core strength and preparing for birth. All of the classes will be held in or near the host children’s centre.

Clara continued: “Women will know the dates of their entire pregnancy care schedule at the beginning of pregnancy and there will also be postnatal follow up and a one month postnatal reunion, to catch up with all of the other Mums in the group and meet all of the babies.”

The sessions will be run in three locations; The Barn/TamarFOLK Children’s Centre in St Budeaux, LARK Children’s Centre in North Prospect and the DELL Children’s Centre Brandreth Road in Efford. The service will be evaluated in the summer of 2017 and if popular with women, it is hoped that it will be rolled out thereafter.

If you are interested in joining or would like to find out more, please speak to your midwife or contact Clara by email: clara.southby@nhs.net or mobile: 07825263627.