HER ROLE

Once you find out that you are pregnant, the first person you will be likely to meet, is your doctor (although you can bypass him completely, and go see your midwife immediately).  He will then refer you to a qualified community midwife.

Your midwife has done between 3 - 5 years of training in order to qualify, and has a wealth of experience in dealing with normal healthy women in pregnancy and childbirth.  She is the person with whom you should consult, and should she feel that you need the intervention of a doctor, she will refer you to him for advice.

She is responsible for providing all your antenatal care needs, assessing you when you go into labour, delivering your baby and caring for you postnataly.  She will also provide you with the education that you may need, to help you through the birth and afterwards.  Unless problems develop, there should be no need for you to receive care from a doctor, as birth is a natural occurrence, and for most women, will progress normally to a normal delivery.

Your midwife can advise on all aspects of pain relief and their side effects, and she is fully trained to carry out emergency procedures should there be, for whatever reason, a delay in the arrival of a doctor.

HER SKILLS

OTHER PROFESSIONALS

General Practitioner/Doctor - Your Gp may see you when you initially book as pregnant, and on a couple of occasions in your pregnancy.  But if you pregnancy progresses normally, he will not really see you much more than this, other to see you on other matters or to provide prescriptions to you.

Hospital doctor/Consultant. - With the growth of midwifery being recognised as a profession in its own right, most women will not need to be seen at the hospital, except for ultrasound scans if they opt for one.  Women, who have "high risk" pregnancies or have had previous problems, will need to be under the care of the hospital medical staff.  This does not mean that you will have no contact with a midwife, as this contact is essential in that she can give you tips, advice and education on a practical level, that the doctors cannot provide.

Ultrasonographers - These are the people who do the scans in antenatal clinics.  They are fully trained in all aspects of scanning techniques in relation to pregnancy.

Health Visitors - Usually qualified nurses or midwives that have gone on to do further education looking into the field of family health and child development.  They will take over your care after your midwife has discharged you, and will monitor the health oh you baby until he/she is 5 years old.  You may also meet them antenataly, as they are often involved in the running of antenatal classes.

Physiotherapists - You may have contact with a physiotherapist during your antenatal period.  They often attend antenatal classes to teach pregnant mums about certain types of exercise that will help during the birth and afterwards.  They can also teach breathing techniques to use in labour.  If you have a caesarean birth, you may also see them on the ward afterwards, when they come to show you some important exercises for your pelvic floor and your tummy.