Midwife care during pregnancy and after childbirth – what does it look like?

Many young mothers not only during pregnancy, but also during the first weeks of life, need a little help and someone who will professionally answer all her questions. Do you know your midwife’s support during pregnancy and after delivery, and even 2 times a week? How many home visits can you expect and how should they look like?

Family and community midwife care during pregnancy

 

You learn that you will be parents, but it is not only new and unusual for you, but also for your body. You need support. It is worth getting interested in the visits of a midwife who will prepare you for childbirth – who will help you better understand what changes are taking place in your body? In order not to run to the doctor with every little thing or – even worse – consult internet portals, ask the midwife who will calm you down and explain what your body is going through.

 

The Act on the Occupations of Nurses and Midwives from 2011 and the Regulation of the Minister of Health from 20.09.2012 allow an authorized midwife to be able to conduct your pregnancy. She has the right to keep pregnancy records or write out referrals for examinations or to the doctor if you are concerned about your results.

 

You are entitled to one appointment a week between weeks 21 and 31 of pregnancy, and two appointments a week after 32 weeks until delivery., during which the midwife will prepare you for childbirth and delivery, answer all your questions about this difficult time. He will tell you how you should prepare, what to take to the hospital with you, pack your bag with you or help you complete the layette, tell you what are the first symptoms of the upcoming delivery, how to work with the midwife conducting the delivery.

 

It is extremely important that you feel prepared, are aware of what you can expect and how to cooperate during labor. But the most important thing is that this preparation by a professional gives you a sense of security.

 

From the abovementioned ordinance of the Minister of Health from 20.09.2012, you will learn more about perinatal care for a pregnant woman, during childbirth, during the puerperium and about caring for a newborn baby: link.

 

List of family and community midwives: here.

 

List of midwives that conduct educational meetings after 21 week of pregnancy: here.

 

 

And what after delivery?

 

When you leave the hospital, you get the impression that your baby is fragile and very delicate, you still feel insecure as a mother. It is known that you’d prefer to simply ask Google the questions that bother you, but in this case it’s worth focusing on a reliable source of knowledge and valuable advice. That’s why, to help you in these first, special days, under the National Health Fund you are entitled to a midwife’s home visit family – it is not obligatory, of course, but it is your right and its duty. If you wish, the midwife must visit you and your baby within 6 weeks after the birth at least four times. Did you know that

 

As you probably know, zoning has not been in force for some time, so while you are pregnant, choose an outpatient clinic that has a signed agreement with the National Health Fund and sign up there with a family midwife, and when filling in the appropriate form, be sure to inform that you are interested in the midwife’s visits. After delivery, your midwife’s first visit should take place no later than 48 hours after you leave the hospital.

 

Patronage visits take place in your home, of course, by appointment. Prepare yourself well for these visits – write down any questions you would like to ask your midwife to help you. Prepare hospital discharge cards, baby health book, and pregnancy card. Often there is information that can be extremely important when it comes to caring for you in these first days.

 

The scope of the midwife’s duties during patronage visits is precisely defined in the Regulation of the Minister of Health of 24 September 2013 on guaranteed services in the field of primary healthcare: here.

 

During such visits, the midwife should show you, among other things, how to properly feed your baby, how to bathe the newborn baby, the midwife will also take care of you: check how your postpartum wounds heal, tell you how to take care of your body in puerperium, how your body should look like. diet and first physical activity, and will also remove your stitches – both those after natural and caesarean delivery – if you need it, of course. He checks the condition of both of you, with special attention to the baby – his navel, fontanel, mouth. She checks whether an additional medical consultation is necessary, and will answer your questions – about colic, vitamins, dressing, baths … Do not hesitate to ask for help, you have the right to do so.

 

What should a good midwife be like?

 

Primarily: checked. Reach out, ask friends, read opinions. This is very important because you need her trust. I met my first family-community midwife at my doctor’s, she came to me a long way, took my caesarean section sutures off, helped me put on the baby, and even wore him, hugged and lulled him to give me a moment of rest. She also recognized disturbing symptoms in my son, which required a visit to a specialist, which I would never have noticed myself. With my second child, I was not so lucky and was just dissatisfied with my community midwife – remember, you are entitled to a free midwife change up to 3 times in a calendar year. You will have to pay PLN 80 for each subsequent change.

 

Does not hinder contact with herself – gives you a phone number and e-mail address so that you can contact her and arrange further meetings.

 

Listens to you kindly, carefully and patiently, answers all of your questions, even those that seem trivial.

 

He doesn’t impose his opinion as the only one, indisputable, because he is not an infallible person – he offers solutions and gives you a choice.

 

Takes care of hygiene – immediately after coming to your home, he undresses and washes his hands thoroughly.

 

Jest soft during the test both your baby and you.

 

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