Download Montrose Maternity

Montrose Maternity
Welcome to your placement with us here at Montrose. We hope you find your time with us both enjoyable
and educational. You will be allocated a mentor (or perhaps 2) who will be happy to assist you in obtaining
your learning objectives.
There are 13 midwives and a health care assistant working at Montrose and you will soon to get to know
us all. The team prides itself on providing a relaxed home from home and happy environment, which we
are sure you will appreciate. In order to promote normality we do not wear uniform. We have decided not
to wear denims and aim to be smart. You are welcome to do this also, but please remember to wear your
identity badge. Scrubs are available in a range of sizes to wear when attending during birth.
Meals can be ordered from Sunnyside kitchen but the majority of staff bring a packed lunch. A vending
machine with a number of sandwiches is available and there is a garage next door where food can be
purchased.
The Unit
Montrose is a stand-alone, midwife-led, community maternity unit, which is equipped to provide
intrapartum care for low risk women. We believe that the midwife is the expert in normal labour and birth
and aim to provide an environment that is conducive to a safe and enriching birth experience.
We ensure that all women have access to a range of options for pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period
and we provide accurate, up to date information to enable them to make informed decisions about what is
best for them. Research has clearly demonstrated that women enjoying low risk pregnancies can safely
have routine antenatal and birth care delivered by midwives in a midwife-led unit.
The team also provide routine antenatal and postnatal care (high and low risk) for all local women. There
is an informal day care provision (for glucose tolerance tests, blood pressure checks, post dates
assessments etc) and postnatal women have access to us for feeding issues, advice etc.
Experience available
Hopefully during your time with us you will be present during a birth. You will notice that we do not have a
bed in our main birth room but a large, low, memory foam mattress. Women are actively encouraged to
mobilise and assume positions of their choice and/or ones, which may facilitate better the birth process.
We provide beanbags, mats, balls and music if desired. Women are discouraged from lying down unless
appropriate. We direct couples to our website www.birthinangus.org.uk for further advice and information.
We have a pool to enable water labour and birth. It would be useful if you familiarised yourself with “The
Tayside Guidelines for Water Labour and Birth” prior to your placement. Most women use the pool at
some point during labour and the majority give birth in it.
Intervention in the normal process of labour is avoided. Many practices cause undue pain and anxiety and
ultimately interfere with the physiology of birth (such as routine vaginal examination, artificial rupture of
membranes, CTG, etc)
Women are supported in their choice for coping with labour. This usually involves, relaxation, TENS,
position change, mobilisation, balls, beanbags, entonox and very occasionally diamorphine, (most women
do not require or request diamorphine in Montrose which furthers our belief in the importance of
appropriate care during labour and birth).
We encourage light diet and fluids throughout the first stage of labour.
To reduce the number of potential problems during labour, women are assessed throughout pregnancy for
suitability to give birth in Montrose. We follow guidelines set out in the Tayside Pregnancy Plan although
fully support women in choices where they fall out with set criteria.
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Preparation for parenthood
At 28 weeks gestation all women are invited to come to our preparation for parenthood sessions. These
are a series of informal workshops designed to provide valuable information and advice and to answer
any questions. There is the opportunity to meet with other expectant parents and also to engage with the
team.
Aquarobics
Aquarobics is a form of exercise in water and a fun way to keep fit safely. From 16weeks gestation women
can attend the classes, which are facilitated by one of the midwives. You will be invited to participate if you
wish.
Breast feeding
Montrose has achieved the UNICEF baby friendly award for having implemented the ten steps to
successful breastfeeding. As part of our commitment to breastfeeding we hold a workshop to cover the
issues. We invite partners to attend also. In an effort to provide on going support following discharge from
the unit or hospital we hold a weekly peer support group in the unit. This is a social event where mums
can discuss their feeding and other issues and support one another. A midwife is available if the women
so wish.
The Birth Plan
The birth plan visit is offered to women at around 34 weeks gestation. This provides an opportunity to
discuss issues surrounding birth and to individualise care. We encourage the birth partner/partners to
attend also.
Postnatal care
You will often accompany a midwife on postnatal visits where daily examinations of mother and baby take
place. We are guests in the family’s home and are respectful of their choices and circumstances. You will
gain an insight into the role of the midwife in the postnatal period.
Whilst we don’t anticipate any problems for you during your time at Montrose we encourage you to
discuss any concerns with your mentor. In the unlikely event that you feel unable to do this, please speak,
in the first instance, to our team leader, Phyllis. We will liaise with the university where appropriate to
ensure you get the support you need.
In the event of sickness please contact the unit, tel 01674 832175 prior to your shift. We will subsequently
inform the university.
Useful websites
The following are some of our favourite websites, which are often thought provoking and provide
interesting resources.
www.birthinangus.org.uk
www.birthinternational.com
www.aims. org.uk
www.activebirthcentre.com
www.britishjournalofmidwifery.com
www.midirs.org
www.radmid.demon.co.uk
Updated Sept 2011
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