Women and Newborn Health Service
Services A — Z
King Edward Memorial Hospital
Midwifery Roles
Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit
Visiting Midwifery Service (VMS)
Antenatal Clinic
If you chose to attend KEMH’s antenatal clinic you can expect your pregnancy care to be provided by a midwife unless you or your baby require specialist medical attention. For more information on what to expect from your antenatal midwife, please refer to the Pregnancy Care at KEMH brochure.
Parent Education
Parent Education midwives are responsible for sharing information with women and their partners about pregnancy, birth and early parenting.
For more information about parent education, please see the Parent Education Pamphlet.
Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit (MFAU)
The
MFAU provides an area where your pregnancy can be assessed
outside your regular antenatal appointment times. The majority
of women don't need to come into hospital until they are
in labour but occasionally some problems may arise.
Any telephone queries throughout your pregnancy can be directed to the midwife in the MFAU. In some pregnancies regular Fetal Heart Rate Traces (CTGs) are required. These will be performed in the MFAU.
Labour and Birth Suite
What happens at the Labour and Birth Suite
- You come into the Labour and Birth Suite once you are in established labour. A midwife will meet you and begin by taking a verbal history.
- The midwife will then conduct a physical examination that provides more information about you and your baby's wellbeing. This may include:
- taking your blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature
- testing your urine
- performing an abdominal palpation
- listening to your baby's heart beat
- conducting an internal examination
- Your midwife will share the information gained from
the assessment with you and together you can choose the
most appropriate management for you and your baby.
- As your labour progresses your midwife will work with you and your family and as the birth approaches, be there to guide and steady you.
- After the birth the midwife will continue her assessment, for example blood pressure, checking your blood loss, ensuring you pass urine and assisting you to feed your baby.
- When you are ready the midwife will take you to your room on the postnatal floor - or alternatively discharge you home to the care of the visiting midwifery service.
Midwives work in collaboration with medical colleagues and will seek their advice should a deviation from the normal be identified. In these situations you can expect your midwife and doctor to work together to ensure you and your baby's needs are addressed.
Postnatal Ward
In the postnatal ward, midwives:
- give you practical help and information (e.g. establishing breastfeeding)
- perform routine observations and procedures (e.g. checking the abdomen to ensure the uterus is well contracted, assessing blood loss, anti-D administration, performing the baby's Guthrie test)
- support you physically and emotionally
- organise your transfer home to the Visiting Midwifery Service (VMS)
Visiting Midwifery Service (VMS)
Your midwife or doctor can request the VMS to visit your home to provide antenatal care if it is required for the wellbeing of your pregnancy.
After birth you are transferred home to the care of the VMS. They will support you until the fifth day postnatally or longer if required.
Other Areas
Emergency Centre
Midwives in the Emergency Centre provide:
- midwifery care to women whose pregnancy is less than 20 weeks gestation
- gynaecological care to all women in need of emergency assistance
Adult Special Care Unit (ASCU)
The midwives in the ASCU provide midwifery and nursing
care for those
pregnant, or postnatal women, or women with gynaecological
or gynaecological oncology conditions who need specialised
medical care.
ASCU facilitates mother-infant interaction if the woman's condition is stable.
