News

A successful project to provide mums-to-be with complete continuity of care with midwives they know throughout pregnancy, birth and after care is being expanded.

 

The Eden Continuity of Care Team was launched in July last year and consisted of six midwives who looked after 210 pregnant women from the Lakeside Practice in Corby.

 

The service is now being expanded, from September 1, to cover the whole of Corby with the creation of two new teams – Diamond and Ruby.

 

Continuity of Care Lead Midwife, Mary Grey, said: “Before the Eden pilot began last year mothers-to-be in the local area had an assigned community midwife, but when they come into hospital to give birth they often had their delivery with a hospital midwife.

 

“The Eden pilot team differed in that mums-to-be were assigned a named midwife who followed them throughout the pregnancy journey – including being present during labour and the birth of the baby.

 

“Feedback from mums involved in the pilot has been fantastic. Having continuity means they built a very strong relationship with their midwife and had a very positive birth experience as a result.

 

“Therefore we are expanding the continuity of care concept across the whole of Corby with the creation of two new teams of six or seven midwives each.

 

“The expansion will mean that every new mum in Corby will receive continuity of care under one of the three teams.”

 

Continuity of Carer is seen as best practice in the NHS and in line with NHS England’s Better Births Five Year Forward View – a plan to improve the quality and consistency of midwifery care across the country. https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/national-maternity-review-report.pdf

 

Jenna and Chris Eaton, from Corby, were supported by the Eden Team before, during and after the birth of their son Alfee on April 1 and know how beneficial continuity of care is.

 

Jenna, a Portfolio Manager for RS PRO, part of RS Components, in Corby, said: “Continuity of care meant I saw my midwife, Mary Grey, throughout my pregnancy and she was there at my delivery as well, which was very reassuring.

 

“I was late, and had to be induced, but Mary explained everything and reassured me. We had a crisis during my birth, where Alfee had to be resuscitated, but she was also there to support me all the way through.

 

“Afterwards, when Alfee came home, she came and checked on us throughout those first ten days.

 

“It was great to have a person who knew your history and concerns and was always on the end of the phone, or able to come around to your home, when you needed them.

 

“Having midwifery care in this way is definitely the best. It’s very flexible and you develop a really good and close relationship with your midwife. It makes everything that much easier and more relaxing.”

 

KGH’s Head of Midwifery, Mara Tonks, said: “We are very excited to be expanding our successful continuity of care service to the whole of Corby. This will help us to further personalise care for mothers-to-be and their families. Our long terms vision is to provide this services across the whole of North Northamptonshire as further teams are developed to cover our local towns.