Antenatal Care
Antenatal care is "care before birth". It monitors and promotes the wellbeing of a mother and her developing baby.
Who Provides Antenatal Care?
All women are entitled to ante natal care under the NHS. This can be provided in a variety of ways. They can attend hospital antenatal clinics or receive care from midwives and GPs in the community. Women can choose to have their baby in hospital, at home or in a midwife or GP-run unit.
What Are Antenatal Classes?
Antenatal classes are designed to prepare for the experience of childbirth. They are small friendly groups of mothers who share similar due dates. They offer an opportunity to gather and share information, learn new skills and meet people who are going through a similar experience.
Topics for discussion might include:-
- pregnancy and birth
- stages of labour
- recognising the onset of labour
- feeding
- where to have your baby
- pain relief
- complications
- role of partner
- baby illnesses
- caring for a new born baby
Who Provides Antenatal Classes?
Classes are provided free of charge by the NHS. Alternatively, there are private classes. The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) have the largest UK network of antenatal classes. Although they make a charge for attendance, they do offer a reduced fee for people on low incomes. The National Childbirth Trust can put individuals in touch with others experiencing similar specific troubles. They also run meetings for new mothers and their babies.
Routine tests are offered to mothers throughout their pregnancy. Blood tests, offered early on, screen for infections that could affect the baby and to check the blood group. Urine is tested to check for infections, protein and sugar. Ultrasound scans look for any physical problem that could affect the baby or delivery and determine the position of the placenta. Women may also be offered a variety of other screening tests.
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