THE launch of a new midwifery service in Launceston and Bude, the first of its kind in Cornwall, took place at St Stephens Children’s Centre, Launceston, on Tuesday, November 13.

The new service, called ‘Chi Kernow’, consists of a team of seven midwives and two maternity support workers based in Bude and Launceston.

Their purpose is to offer expectant mothers continuity of carer. This means that mothers-to-be will be assigned a midwife, or may request one they already know, who will care for them throughout their pregnancy and will see the mother for the majority of her routine appointments.

Chi Kernow also offers various sessions where mothers-to-be can meet the other members of the team. This includes the maternity support workers as they will be available following the birth for home visits to support new mothers to care for and feed their newborn(s).

If a mother chooses to have her baby at home, the service’s aim is for them to be cared for, either by their own named midwife or a midwife that they have met during their pregnancy.

Regardless of where people plan to have their baby, they will have a named midwife available for advice and support throughout a pregnancy and after the baby has been born.

A person’s named midwife will also signpost a mother to groups and drop in sessions to help them prepare for a new baby.

The ultimate aim is for mothers to be well informed, supported and actively involved in a pregnancy, cared for by a midwife that is known and trusted.

The launch was also about meeting and starting to work with other birth professionals such as doulas, hypnobirthing teachers and yoga teachers (to name a few) and to offer them opportunities to work with the midwifery service in the sessions they will be offering families, so that they are well informed about the services out there available to them and are offered taster sessions with the Chi Kernow midwife team facilitating.

Sam Gale, Chi Kernow team leader, and Jane Urben, head of midwifery at Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, said: “We were delighted that around 30 people attended the launch party of the Chi Kernow midwives.

“This pilot team will be promoting continuity of care as set out in the government initiative ‘Better Births’ and is the first of its kind in Cornwall. The benefit to women and their families is one of enhanced continuity — in other words that they will have a named midwife who will co-ordinate all of their maternity care and see them for the majority of their antenatal and postnatal appointments and that they will know the midwife if they choose to have a home birth.

“In addition there will be new drop in sessions where families can access support and information in between their appointments and meet other birth professionals such as the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ team and yoga and hypnobirthing teachers and doulas as well as breastfeeding peer supporters and other people with information and support around birth and parenting.

“We as a team are really excited and passionate about providing this care to the families of Bude and Launceston and would welcome any enquiries about this service. We can be found on Facebook and Twitter.”

Chi Kernow will be holding a monthly homebirth group for anyone interested in having a home birth or for those who have had one and are happy to come and talk about it.

There will also be a regular ‘Birth Choices Workshops’, where people can go to help decide where the best place for them to give birth is.

The maternity support workers will also be holding regular baby care sessions and will provide postnatal home visiting.

For more information about Chi Kernow visit their Facebook page or on Twitter @chikernow