Telling your GP and/or Midwife promptly will help to make sure you receive maternity healthcare that takes into account all your health needs and preferences. You can book an appointment with your GP or directly with your Midwife as soon as you know that you’re pregnant.
It’s best to see them as early as possible to obtain the information you need to have a healthy pregnancy, and because some tests, such as screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia should be done before you’re 10 weeks’ pregnant.
Midwife
The Midwife works with the Doctor to give care to women having a baby, both before birth and for ten days after the baby is delivered. Antenatal appointments are now generally provided by the Midwife at the Hospital or satellite clinic. For further information please contact your Practice.
The role of the midwife
A Midwife is a qualified nurse who has undertaken further training to provide and promote normal midwifery.
They help you to prepare for motherhood and promote good health for yourself and your baby by advising on the effects of drinking, smoking and good diet whilst you are pregnant.
The Midwife guides you through your pregnancy and endeavours to detect any problems and make relevant referrals if necessary.
Your antenatal care
When you first learn that you’re pregnant, get in touch with a Midwife or GP as soon as possible. Ideally this should be by 10 weeks of your pregnancy. Telling your GP and/or Midwife promptly will help to make sure you receive maternity healthcare that takes into account all your health needs and preferences.
If you are more than six weeks pregnant you can now book your maternity care directly with Poole Hospital’s maternity servicesby filling in a self referral form.
The form asks you questions about yourself, your family and your medical background. Please answer as fully as possible, as this will enable us to ensure that you receive the most appropriate care.
Following receipt of your referral you will be contacted via email by a member of the community team and given an appointment at 8 weeks to have your routine booking blood tests performed. At this appointment the midwife will discuss your screening options with you and complete a consent form. A phlebotomist will perform the blood tests. The appointment will take approximately 20 minutes.
Once you have referred in to the service you will be contacted within 3 weeks with a date for the booking appointment. If you do not hear from us within three weeks please contact 01202 442515.
For all other queries regarding your maternity care, you should call the community midwifery team on 01202 442692 in the first instance.