Best Start
The most notable change coming up in Midwifery Services is the Best Start Scheme. The schemes encompasses the recent replacement of the Sure Start Maternity Grant for expectant parents, but also the new structure of Maternity Care provided by midwives. The scheme will mean that pregnant women should receive care from just one midwife throughout their antenatal, labour and postnatal experience. This should ensure continuity of care for women and reduce stress experienced during the antenatal and postnatal period, which in turn negates the effect of stress on the newborn. This is an exciting time for Midwifery, and the Best Start scheme is currently being piloted in parts of Edinburgh, with a view to it being rolled out citywide in the upcoming years. This will mean a big change for the way midwives work, but also for the way the Bump Start works to ensure we continue to be well embedded within the midwifery teams we work with and offer individualised support to those women who need it.
The Baby Buddy App
Louisa also heard about a new app called ‘Baby Buddy’ which has been developed by the Best Beginnings charity. Baby Buddy is a free app with lots of helpful information for expectant and new parents. There is a new piece of information about your pregnancy or baby every day, as well as videos and images about your baby’s development in the womb, a diary to keep track of your appointments and places to keep a note of any questions you might have for your midwife or doctor. You can tailor the app to give you relevant information, for example you can select whether you have a partner or not, and where you are living, so the app gives you details of local charities and organisations that can offer more pregnancy and parenting support. There is lots of information about feeding and caring for your new baby and a handy glossary of words you might here often as a new parent, but that you may not always know the meaning of, alongside lots of other helpful tools.
If you would like to download the app you can search for “Baby Buddy – Pregnancy Guide” on your app store where it is free to download.