Option 1 - Full antenatal, labour and birth, and postnatal care until the baby is 4 weeks old.

Antenatal:  This will consist of all your routine antenatal appointments at your home (for further details see appointments page), plus accompanying you to hospital appointments, such as ultrasound scans or consultant appointments, at your discretion.

Labour and birth:  If you are planning a home birth, I will be on call for you 24 hours a day from the time you are 37 weeks pregnant.  I will attend you in labour to support and encourage you, and ensure that you and your baby are well throughout.  After the baby is born I will stay for a little while (usually 2 - 3 hours) to help you have a bath and get settled, and help with the baby's first feed.  Once I am happy that all is well, I will leave and probably return later in the day.

If you are planning to give birth in hospital, I will attend you at home in early labour and accompany you to the hospital when you want to transfer.  Once at the hospital I will hand over care to a member of staff and my role will change to that of your supporter and advocate.  I will stay with you until after your baby has been born.  Obtaining honorary contracts with hospitals, in order to be able to provide care for clients within them, is difficult and complicated, and therefore I am able only to provide support for you in that environment.

Postnatal:  For the first few days after your baby is born I will visit every day to check that you are both well, and to answer any questions you may have.  I will also perform the metabolic screening blood test for your baby.

Once you are happy to reduce the frequency of visits I shall call less often, though you will have access to me by telephone all the time, and I will visit if you want me to.

I will visit you until your baby is four weeks old, if required.