The new guidelines will help GPs, midwives and other maternity health care providers with the task of caring for women receiving antenatal care within a shared care arrangement.
The State-wide Obstetric Support Unit, in partnership with WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) and the King Edward Memorial Hospital Liaison GP have launched a new set of guidelines for Maternity shared care. The new guidelines are available online and answer the requests from clinicians, made back in 2018 and are the results of more than two years of work by relevant authorities.
What is shared maternity?
Simply put, shared maternity care is a collaborative holistic maternity care, involving midwives, GPs, Obstetricians, and other health service providers. This approach to maternity care follows four key principles, highlighted in the new guidelines:
- Collaborative practice – This includes “clearly defined roles and responsibilities for all involved, especially for the person the woman regards as her primary care provider.
- Women-centred care – “The views, beliefs and values of the woman in relation to her care and that of her baby are sought and respected. The woman is the central decision maker for herself and her baby.”
- Informed decision making – “Recommendations and options for care are offered in a manner that supports informed decision-making. Information is provided about the benefits, risks, alternatives and potential outcomes of all options for care.”
- Providing antenatal care for women with complex social needs – For women with complex social needs, maternity care may be provided in partnership with other agencies including mental health services, domestic violence teams, illegal substance use services, drug and alcohol teams, youth and adolescent pregnancy support services, learning disability services and children’s services.”
These key principles are sourced from the new published shared maternity guidelines and help understand the goal of this healthcare approach to maternity.
What to expect?
Under these new guidelines, women receiving maternity shared care should expect to go through a schedule of services, including a first visit, assessment of their medical and family history, examinations and various antenatal appointments. There will also be routine assessments and screenings, abnormal screening, testing and management of results, discussions about interpregnancy interval and contraception, labour and birth as well as postnatal care.
According to WAPHA, the new guidelines were developed using evidence-based and contemporary professional practice standards. Their main goal is to outline the minimum clinical care that maternity share care providers must give their patients.
To learn more, access the Maternity Shared Care Guidelines online. Any questions about these guidelines can be sent to SOSUMidwiferyDirector@health.wa.gov.au.