Maternity

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All the doctors offer full ante-natal and post-natal care in conjunction with the hospital, our midwife and health visitor.

THINKING OF HAVING A BABY

Ask your doctor for a printout of “Pre-conception and Early Pregnancy” advice sheet

DIAGNOSING PREGNANCY

Over the counter pregnancy test kits are a reliable way of confirming pregnancy. When you think you are pregnant please make an appointment with your GP.

ONCE YOU ARE PREGNANT

We will give you additional information with other leaflets (subject to availability) include ‘Emma’s Diary’. Your doctor will also write a referral letter to our midwife (or hospital consultant in certain cases).

You will be contacted by the midwife who will explain the follow up appointments and services offered.

At this point the doctors have agreed that the midwife holds responsibility for your antenatal care (i.e. organising and following up all screening and investigations).

You can, however, book at any time to see your doctor to discuss any problems. Indeed your doctor may well ask you to make one or more of the routine appointments with him or her instead of the midwife just to keep in touch with you.

At Westbourne Medical Centre we believe it is beneficial for you to have regular antenatal care to reduce the risk of problems in pregnancy. The majority of pregnancies of course proceed with no problems at all. You will be offered a series of appointments as listed on the next page. This is a basic outline which can be adapted to your needs.

If you are Rhesus negative the midwife will explain and organise Anti-D injections at 28-30 weeks and 34-36 weeks.

Your midwife will invite you to 4 parent-craft classes which are held at Parkstone Health Centre(2-4pm) or Poole Hospital (evenings) usually at about 20 weeks but you can go earlier if you wish . Topics include

The three stages of labour

Pain relief in labour

The role of partner / supporter

The birth of the baby and a video

Feeding options

Parenting skills

Relaxation and breathing techniques

Useful Contact numbers:

Health Visitor - 756252 (non urgent messages can be left on the answer machine. Responses to messages will be the next working day)
Poole Antenatal Clinic - 442327
Bournemouth Maternity Unit - 704685
Bournemouth Antenatal Clinic - 704681
Community Midwife’s Office - 448577 (8.30 am - 9.30 am, 7 days per week, if you wish to speak to a midwife. Otherwise, from 9.30 a.m. onwards an answer machine is available for non urgent/general enquiries. Responses to messages should be within 24 hrs)

Urgent contact numbers:

Poole Antenatal Ward (8a.m.–10 p.m). 442336
Poole delivery Suite 442114

Your midwife will give you her mobile phone number but this will only be switched on when she is working

Meet your Health Visitor: The Health Visitors would like to meet you, prior to the birth and will advise you of when they will be running a 'Meet your Health Visitor Session'. The venue will be St Michael's Church Hall Poole Road Bournemouth BH2 4QU. These sessions will be held the first Monday of the month at 1.00pm. for more information on Health Visitors please ring 756252.