Call the midwife – and get the same one!

That’s the message to mums-to-be as a new scheme starts across Airedale.

My Airedale Midwife (MAM) will provide personal one-on-one care to pregnant women – throughout their pregnancy, labour and immediately after the birth.

Where requested, the midwife can accompany the person to clinics and provide all antenatal care.

Women who want a home birth or who have had a previous caesarean section and wish to consider a vaginal birth, or have complex social needs, will be able to use the scheme.

Claire Mathews, head of midwifery at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The MAM project recognises that for some women, having one midwife they can get to know and trust can make a huge difference to how they cope with their pregnancy, labour and the birth of their baby.”

The MAM team will also provide hypnotherapy classes in the community.

Among those present at the start of the scheme was Professor Lesley Page, president of the Royal College of Midwives.

She said: “Expectant women can benefit from the continuity of care they will receive from the MAM project, which can mean less intervention during the birth.

“The trust and the midwifery team should be congratulated for this enhancement to their maternity service.”

The first mum to have a home birth as part of MAM was Frances Handbury, 32.

“I wanted to be in my own familiar environment where I could relax and feel at home – where we could turn the lights down, have food and drinks available when we wanted them and move around when I wanted to,” said Mrs Handbury.

“It was also good to be able to settle at home straight after the birth rather than having to move from hospital to home.”