Antenatal clinic
Run by Midwife - Monday 1.30pm
The named midwife for the surgery is Emma Liversidge
The Midwifes can be contacted at their office, Monday to Friday on 0191 28583641 or 0191 2848296. Leave your name and contact number when ringing the office. Do not leave urgent messages on the answerphone
Click here to download a PDF version of this Antenatal leaflet
Ultrasound Scans
Your partner can be present for routine scans. A dating scan in addition to a nuchal translucency scan is usually done at 12 weeks. If you require a more specialist scan, the radiologist may request him to wait outside in order to ensure optimum conditions for the procedure.
Screening for Down's Syndrome, Spina Bifida and other anomalies
Nuchal Translucency screening is available on request to all patients if presenting before 13 weeks and 6 days. Maternal serum screening (MSS) in the form of a blood test is offered at 16 weeks. An anomaly scan is available at 20 weeks.
Folic Acid
It is recommended that folic acid in a dose of 400 mcgms be taken before conception and for 12 weeks after conception. This has been found to be beneficial to the normal development of the foetus. A prescription can be obtained from your doctor but as you will be required to pay a prescription charge for it at the chemist, it may be cheaper to purchase over the counter. The important information is to take folic acid before conception rather than when you get a positive pregnancy test.
Our service
We offer shared antenatal care: shared between the midwife, doctor and hospital. Your pregnancy needs to be confirmed by your doctor who will then refer you to the midwife. The midwife will arrange to see you 2 to 3 weeks after this. If you work normal office hours it may be beneficial if you can contact the midwife on the above number.
A note about weeks of pregnancy might be helpful. If your menstrual cycle is a regular 28 days then the pregnancy is counted from the first day of your last menstrual period. Obviously you could not be pregnant then but a pregnancy "lasts" 280 days from the LMP, unless the cycle is longer than 28 days then the additional days are added to 280 to give the expected date of delivery. Ultrasound scanning is now so accurate and routine that this is usually used to confirm the duration of the pregnancy.
Outlined below is the usual schedule for your antenatal care.This is for low risk pregnancies and may change depending upon circumstances.
|
Weeks |
|
|
5-6 |
Pregnancy confirmed |
|
8+ |
Home visit from midwife to include routine blood tests |
|
12 |
Dating and or Nuchal Translucency scan at RVI |
|
16 |
Antenatal clinic at surgery with blood results. Maternal serum screening if requested after counselling |
|
20 |
Anomaly scan |
|
25 |
Antenatal clinic at surgery for first pregnancy |
|
28 |
Antenatal clinic at surgery including blood tests and infant feeding plan |
|
31 |
Review care if first pregnancy and blood results |
|
34 |
Antenatal clinic at surgery |
|
36 |
Antenatal clinic at surgery |
|
38 |
Antenatal clinic at surgery |
|
40 |
Antenatal clinic at surgery |
|
41 |
If you have not delivered, midwife will usually visit to discuss date for induction of labour and offer a membrane sweep |
Please inform the surgery when you are discharged from hospital after the delivery of your baby.
After delivery the community midwife will visit regularly until she is satisfied that all is well. Joanne Curley, our health visitor will contact you after this to discuss vaccinations and any other problems.
A postnatal check with your doctor is recommended between 6 and 8 weeks after delivery. This gives an opportunity to discuss any problems and future contraception.
Useful publications
Emma's Diary, available from the surgery.
Pregnancy Book by Health Education Council available from your midwife.
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