Vital maternity service celebrates first anniversary

A maternity team at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (UHD) has commemorated one year of supporting new parents and families.  

The group of midwives, known as the Meadow Team, work together to provide consistent care for women from the global majority throughout their pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. 

Their main aim is to ensure expectant mothers are seen by the same midwife, or a small group of familiar midwives, across all stages of their pregnancy. This is key to continuity of care, and for allowing the midwife to better understand an individual's needs and preferences.

The same team of midwives are also on-call for women during their labour and month, and their care and support is extended into the postnatal period with home visits for up to a month.

One mother who used the service praised "the warmth, care, and respect" during her care.

"I felt so supported whilst managing gestational diabetes, and I really appreciated the proactive approach of the team towards the end of my pregnancy, which I found very difficult", she said. "I felt safe and listened to; it was professional care at its peak."

The team support women who choose to give birth at home, in birth centres, or hospital settings depending on what is safest and appropriate for each individual. They also provide monthly face-to-face education classes, which is a great opportunity for expectant parents to meet other midwives in the team. 

Midwives are either based at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital or Boscombe Children's Centre, and provide at least two home visits during pregnancy.

Elena Gray, continuity midwife and deputy lead of Meadow Team said: “We absolutely love what we do, being able to build genuine, meaningful relationships with the people we support. It creates an opportunity to truly understand women's values and preferences, enabling us to advocate more effectively and tailor care to their needs.”