First anniversary for Dorset maternity unit

A maternity team at University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UHD) is celebrating one year of supporting new parents and families from the ‘global majority’ (a term for people from diverse, usually non-white backgrounds).

The Meadow Team’s aim is to ensure that 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 understand an individual’s needs and preferences.

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

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