The midwifery service overview. what is a midwife?

what is a midwife?

A midwife is an expert in pregnancy and birth.

What do they do?

Midwives especially trained to care for mothers and babies throughout pregnancy Labour and after the bus. They provide care for most women in hospital or at home.

Increasingly, or Midwives work both in hospitals and in community ( GP surgeries and home visits).  If everything is straightforward, and midwife will look after baby's bottle during labour, and they'll provide support during the bus. In some cases, other professionals may be involved in the care of Mum and baby. after the birth, your family will be cared for by Midwives and maternity support workers.

Who is my midwife?

the name of the midwife providing care to your baby's Mum will be written on the front of the handheld pregnancy notes.

Antenatal appointments:

Antenatal simply means before the birth. The midwifery service will take the lead on the care of your baby's mum during the pregnancy and in the first days following birth.

Your baby's mum will have a number of antenatal appointments with the midwife and and/or  or sometimes a doctor - to check on things like Mum and babies health, to provide information on matters such as healthy eating, and to answer any questions that you and/or babies Mum might have.

You are encouraged to attend all of the antenatal appointments, although you may be asked to leave the room at certain points.

Midwifery advice and support:

Midwifery advice and support is available 24 hours a day. during the day this will usually be via the community midwives office but, out of hours, you can call your local maternity triage unit/ maternity assessment unit.

Relevant contact details can be found in the pregnancy hand-held records, and also via the NHS Choices website.

 1st trimester

(Months 0-3 of pregnancy)

1st contact:

Baby’s mum should make an appointment to see her GP or Midwife when she first finds out that she is pregnant.

Booking appointment:

This will take place when the pregnancy is between 8-14 weeks. The Midwife will provide detailed information on how to have a healthy pregnancy and the choices available. Blood tests for mum will usually be taken at this appointment.

1st scan:

This will usually take place when the pregnancy is between 11-14 weeks. This checks the due date and development of baby, plus there may be screening for some potential abnormalities.

2nd trimester

(Months 4-6 of pregnancy)

16 weeks Midwife appointment: The Midwife will discuss any results of screening tests that took place at the booking appointment and 1st scan, and check that the pregnancy is progressing healthily.

2nd scan:

This will usually take place when the pregnancy is between 18-20 weeks. Again, this checks on the baby’s development and looks for any physical abnormalities.

NB. The number of ultrasound scans offered during pregnancy will vary depending on the circumstances, but this will be discussed at antenatal appointments.

25-26 weeks Midwife appointment:

The Midwife will check that the pregnancy is progressing healthily.

3rd trimester

(Months 7-9 of pregnancy)

28 weeks Midwife appointment:

The Midwife will check that the pregnancy is progressing healthily, offer further screening tests and also offer additional treatments/supplements if considered necessary.

31 weeks Midwife appointment:

The Midwife will check that the pregnancy is progressing healthily.

34 weeks Midwife appointment:

As well as checking that the pregnancy is progressing healthily, the Midwife will provide information on preparing for labour and birth, and discuss baby’s mum’s birth plan.

36 weeks Midwife appointment:

As well as checking that the pregnancy is progressing healthily, the Midwife will provide information on feeding and caring for your baby, tests and screening that will take place on baby after birth, and ensuring parental good health (inc mental health) after birth.

38 weeks Midwife appointment:

The Midwife will check that the pregnancy is progressing healthily, and discuss options if the pregnancy should continue beyond 41 weeks.

40 weeks Midwife appointment:  

The Midwife will check that the pregnancy is progressing healthily, and provide further information on what will happen if the pregnancy should continue beyond 41 weeks.

There will be a further Midwife appointment at 41 weeks, if the baby has not yet been born, to continue to monitor mum and baby and to consider options on how your baby will be born.

Please also see 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/antenatal-appointment-schedule/#first-contact-with-midwife-or-doctor