NICE publish new antenatal care guidelines
New antenatal care guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommending that pregnant women in the UK should have access to the same named midwife throughout their pregnancy have been endorsed by the RCM.
The recommendations follow a recent survey published by the RCM showing that 22% of women did not know their midwife ‘very well’ during their pregnancy and as many as a third of expectant mums saw a different midwife at each antenatal appointment.
Commenting on the new guidelines, RCM quality and audio development advisor Jane Munro said: “Good care throughout pregnancy can have a significant and positive effect on the wellbeing of the woman and the outcomes for her and her baby.
“This standard will contribute to safer and healthier pregnancies for women, and we fully endorse it. We look forward to its widespread implementation.”
The guidelines focus on 12 main quality care statements and include recommendations for additional support and personalised advice for pregnant women who are obese and referrals to ‘stop smoking sessions’ for women who smoke at the point of their booking in appointments.
Dr Gillian Leng, director of health and social care at NICE, said: “Having a baby is one of the most important times in a woman’s life and healthcare professionals want to make sure this is a good and safe experience.
“The majority of women will not experience any complications during their pregnancy, but serious problems such as miscarriage, fetal growth restriction or pre-term birth unfortunately still occur.
She added: “This new quality standard identifies 12 key priority areas of routine care that healthy women should expect to receive during their pregnancy, including screening tests for complications.
“It includes a set of measures to enable commissioners and providers to track ongoing achievement against this standard.
“The new quality standard also firmly places women at the centre of decision making about their care, ensuring they are provided with up to date information to enable them to make informed decisions in partnership with healthcare professionals about their care and treatment.’
