Our Care

We believe women should be able to give birth to their babies in a safe and satisfying way in the place of their choice.

Antenatal

At the Albany Midwifery Practice all women are accepted for care whatever their risk factor; if the woman has a medical or obstetric problem the midwives liaise with the consultants at Kings. The emphasis is on the normal physiology of labour and birth and an expectation of normality.

Each woman is assigned a primary and a second midwife and is encouraged to get to know the other midwives by attending antenatal groups.

During the pregnancy the midwives are able to build a relationship with the woman - there is always time given to discuss each woman’s hopes and concerns. We get to know the women well and respect their right to choose where and how they have their baby, based on good, evidence-based information.

A woman is rarely booked for a “home” or a “hospital” birth instead she is encouraged to make her decision about place of birth in labour, unless there is a clear reason to opt for a hospital birth. An open dialogue is kept throughout the pregnancy about the normality of pregnancy and birth. Midwives offer and make referrals for all appropriate investigations and have access to other health professionals.

At around 36 weeks we have a “birth talk” at the woman’s home with her birth supporter(s) and midwives. We discuss normal labour and birth and what to expect. The importance of support from her family and friends during labour and the early postnatal period are emphasised. We show birth photos to demonstrate active labour and birth positions.

During Labour

The Albany Midwives' particular areas of expertise are in keeping birth normal. We have high rates of women having homebirth, waterbirth, VBAC and breastfeeding.

When the woman calls her primary midwife in labour, the midwife will visit her at home with a full set of equipment. If the woman is in established labour the primary midwife will stay with her, enabling her to make a choice about where she wants to give birth.

Women are encouraged to be active and to eat and drink as they wish. They are supported to give birth without the use of pharmacological analgesia, and most do: in 2006 of the women having spontaneous vaginal births, only 3.4% had epidurals and 2.8% used Entonox.

Postnatal Care

Postnatal care is provided mainly by the primary midwife. We visit at home or in hospital regularly in the first few days to help establish breastfeeding and give support. We stay on call for up to 28 days. Women are encouraged to come to the practice and talk to the antenatal groups about their experience.