My name's Kelly. I'm a community midwife. I work with women and families in their own homes rather than in a hospital setting.
Now you might think that my job is just delivering babies but I actually spend most of my time supporting women and families in the months leading up to their birth.
I carry out all my appointments in the homes of the women I'm looking after. If it's your first baby, you'll have around 10 midwife appointments. If you've already had children, it's about 7, but you might have extra appointments if you're under the care of a specialist. At each appointment, we'll ask permission to check your blood pressure and also check your urine for protein and glucose. We do this to ensure that you and your baby are healthy. We will feel your tummy to see how baby is growing and listen to baby's heartbeat. Towards the end of your pregnancy, we'll also ask you about baby's activity and movement and also check which position baby's in.
As well as these checks, there are specific topics we'll talk about at each appointment. This includes things like which ante-natal and screening tests are available to you, advice about diet and exercise, making a birth plan, booking antenatal classes and providing emotional support to both you and your partner.
Ask as many questions as you want, and remember: no question is too silly. Your midwife is there to support you and your family to have the birth you want.
What is a midwife's role in your child's development journey?
Community midwife Kelly Sawyer explains her role and what parents can expect from their midwife visits.
