CHOOSING A LEAD MATERNITY CAREER

What are my options?

One of your first major decisions upon becoming pregnant is choosing your Lead Maternity Caregiver (LMC). This person will be in charge of caring for you and your baby, and could be a midwife, general practitioner, or a specialist obstetrician.

What is their role?

Your LMC is responsible for your care throughout your pregnancy and the postpartum period, including the management of your labor. They must be available 24 hours a day, and seven days a week to provide phone advice and/or attendance if required, either personally or by nominated back-up person.

How do you find one?

You can phone 0800 MUM 2 BE (0800 686 223) for names and phone numbers of LMC careers in your area. As this person becomes your second most important person to you during pregnancy, after your main support person, it is important that you can feel comfortable and at ease with them. For your own peace of mind you may like to make a list of questions you can ask to ensure you have the right LMC for you. Will you provide all my care or would others be involved? How can I contact you if I need help or advice? Who will provide my backup care for me if you can’t be there? How many antenatal visits can I expect to have and where? Will you visit me at home in early labor? What happens if you are away or with someone else when I go into labor? Will I be able to meet your back up person? What happens if I need specialist care during my pregnancy or my labor? If this happens will you continue to provide care for me? If I have a caesarean section will you go to the theatre with me? What would your role be? How many postnatal visits can I expect, both in hospital and at home? How many weeks do you visits after birth?

What happens next?

Once you have decided who your LMC will be, you will be asked to sign a form called the Registration of Woman with LMC. Once signed your LMC is required to conduct a comprehensive pregnancy assessment and document a care plan for you. Your car plan is a record of the decisions you and your LMC have made together about how your care will be provided. A copy will be included in your clinical notes and another copy will be given to you. General details that will be covered: Schedule and location of your visits How to access your LMC in urgent situations Education plan during pregnancy and following birth Screening for infectious diseases Birthing environment and the presence of others Options and preference for birthing positions Interventions and treatments Likely stay in hospital Requirements for postnatal care. Your LMC will see you regularly throughout your pregnancy to monitor your progress – they will check your baby’s growth, position and heartbeat, including early detection and management of any problems. Generally these visits are monthly until your third trimester then fortnightly, then weekly in the last month.

During labor...

During labor your LMC is required to be at the hospital within 20 minutes of your arrival. And from the time of established labor your LMC is required to supply all your primary care, regularly monitoring your progress and finally managing the birth. Whilst in hospital you can expect a daily visit from your LMC, and within the first 24 hours after birth your LMC will perform a detailed clinical examination of your baby. Generally after 48hours in hospital your LMC, after consultation with you, will organize your discharge.

And when baby comes home...

Once home your LMC is required to provide your ongoing postnatal care for up to six weeks after birth. You can expect up to 5-10 visits from your LMC or midwife in your home, one within 24hours of leaving the hospital. These visits are your opportunity to seek assistance or advice for anything with regards to caring for you or your baby.