Better Births at West Herts
Continuity of Carer
We work hard to provide safe and personalised maternity care and, in line with the national Better Births recommendations, are working hard to roll out Continuity of Carer (CoC) for our maternity service users. CoC is the provision of care from a known midwife (working as part of a small team) throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and the early postnatal period, which puts the woman/birthing person, their baby and their family at the heart of the care provided.
This model of care has been proven to lead to better outcomes and safety for both the mother/birthing person and baby, and offer a more positive, personal experience.
In line with the national ambition, we strive to roll out CoC to the majority of families in our care by March 2023.
Personalised Care and Support Plan
We recognise that every pregnancy, birth and journey to parenthood is different and want to provide maternity care that is personalised to meet your individual needs, circumstances and choices.
By providing you with the unbiased information required to make choices about your care and supporting you to create a personalised care and support plan (PCSP), you can decide on the care that is best for you and your baby.
We will support you to create a plan that is personalised to your needs and considers your views and choices, your medical history, previous experiences of pregnancy and birth and your family circumstances.
Your views will be listened to and valued, and your choices will be respected, recorded, and followed so that you feel safe and supported with your decisions whilst being treated with dignity and respect.
We believe you are the expert on what matters to you and your baby, so when considering the options available to you, you may wish to consider:
- What are my options?
- What are the pros and cons of my options?
- What support and information do I need to make my decision?
The free Mum & Baby app contains reliable information on many of the topics you may want to consider, along with a personalised care plan where you can record your thoughts, feelings and questions.
You may find it useful to download and print a copy of this to share with your care provider and discuss if you wish.
If the video doesn't load, you can watch it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/jlbJyMIqitA
