Health professionals

Question 1

Midwives

Answer 1

Experts in natural pregnancy and birth
Look after pregnant women and her baby through antenatal care, labour, birth, and for up to 28 days after the baby is born.
Provide parenting classes
Clinical examinations
Support through labour
Checking the baby is healthy
Identifying high risk pregnancies

Question 2

What are the 3 different types of midwives?

Answer 2

Hospital- work in hospitals birth centres, midwife-led units, antenatal clinics, labour wards, children’s centres, GP surgeries, and postnatal wards.

Community- visit pregnant women at home or at a specialised clinic, attend home births, visit new mothers

Independent- work outside of the NHS, work with women having home birth

Question 3

Obstetrician

Answer 3

provide antenatal care for mothers who have a complication/s.
identify if they have a complication
helps if a baby becomes distressed during birth/labour
can help with delivery

Question 4

General practitioner (GP)

Answer 4

mother will go there first, following a positive pregnancy test
GP confirms pregnancy
books the women into the ‘maternity system’ for scans and check-ups
answer any questions
discuss medical conditions
responds to emergency concerns relating to the pregnancy

Question 5

Gynaecologist

Answer 5

Specialise in the female reproductive organs
treats fertility conditions
treats early pregnancy symptoms
emergency care for problems in early pregnancy (like bleeding)

Question 6

Paediatrician

Answer 6

A doctor specialising in babies and children
will be there for the birth if there is a concern about baby’s health
check the baby is healthy before leaving the hospital