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Midwifery Services
Your appointment will be in a relaxed atmosphere with refreshments. It will include a full well being check for you and your baby.
Mum: Blood pressure, urine analysis, uterine growth measurements and general well being.
Baby: Fetal heart, growth measurements, presentation. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.
The appointment will include a full antenatal check for you and the baby. Sweeping of membranes is a safe method to reduce the length of term in pregnancy and the incidence of prolonged gestation in a low-risk population. There is no evidence that sweeping the membranes increases the risk of maternal or neonatal adverse outcomes. The procedure has been evidenced that performed within the term (37-41 weeks) stage of pregnancy is safe. However tummy2mummy perform the sweeps at the earliest 39 weeks as evidence has shown it be more successful at the later stage.
A membrane sweep involves an internal vaginal examination. The midwife will place a finger just inside your cervix and, making a circular sweeping movement, will attempt to separate the membranes from the cervix. This will stimulate the release of hormones that may start contractions. It may be uncomfortable but should not cause actual pain; you may also experience a mucus/bloodstained ‘show’ like a discharge, following this, which is quite normal. Following the examination you will be offered refreshments and the opportunity to discuss the findings.
The appointment will include a full antenatal check for you and your baby. Refreshments will be included.
You will be offered support in writing and planning your birth plan, we will support and advice you in the choices you make in a non hurried relaxed environment. You will leave feeling empowered and ready for your birth experience.
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a normal bacterium which colonises up to 30% of adults in the UK, without symptoms or side-effects. GBS can cause infection, most commonly in newborn babies before, during or shortly after birth.
GBS can more rarely cause infection in adults (typically women during pregnancy or after birth, the elderly and people with serious underlying medical conditions which impair their immune system). Women are not offered routine GBS screening within the NHS.
At the appointment we will perform the procedure using the Enriched Culture Medium (ECM) testing. When the test is completed we will send off to the laboratory for the test to be completed. You will receive the results within a few days by text message and in the post. go to NHS choices web site for information for GBS and the different tests.