This package is ideal for those who would like to be looked after by a consultant obstetrician throughout their pregnancy.

Our list of participating obstetric consultants are all independent practitioners and have undergone a rigorous process of assessment prior to gaining admitting privileges to our hospital. Mothers to be may choose to use their personal OBG, however, Hargreaves reserves the right to conduct thorough background checks and assessment on chosen consultant.

Your chosen obstetrician will advise on all aspects of your antenatal and obstetric care. They will also arrange your hospital booking for the delivery of your baby and offer an informed choice on all types of birth from normal deliveries through to elective or medical caesarean sections.

Some mothers-to-be discover late in their pregnancy that they require a medical caesarean section, which depending on your policy may even be covered by your healthcare insurance. We do accept late bookings, however, contact must be made with midwife, to communicate changes.

A midwife will be present throughout your delivery to assist the obstetrician. They will also care for you whilst you remain in the hospital post-delivery and provide invaluable support with feeding your new baby.

Ask about our maternity payment plan…

Hargreaves Memorial Hospital offers private midwife delivery for mothers to be who are expecting an uncomplicated pregnancy and birth with the unique benefit of having an experienced named obstetrician to supervise and offer support if necessary.

Our team of highly experienced, friendly and committed midwives are available 24hrs daily, for advice throughout pregnancy and when the time comes for your baby to be born you will be guided through labour and birth while supervised by an OBG consultant.

Following birth, you will be cared for in a private room under the care of a midwife who will be on hand to provide you with invaluable support and advice when looking after your new baby.

Are you eligible for Midwife delivery?

At Hargreaves Memorial Hospital there are eligibility criteria for Midwife delivery. While any doctor (whether specialist or general practitioner) can send a patient for booking for a midwife delivery at Hargreaves, certain criteria for selection MUST be met. These include:

• No PREVIOUS UTERINE SURGICAL SCARS eg. CAESAREAN or MYOMECTOMY
• NO MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS eg. DIABETES, SICKLE CELL, HYPERTENTSION etc.
• NO MULTIPLE PREGNANCIES
• NO ABNORMAL LIE OR ABNORMAL PRESENTATIONS
• NO ANTE-PARTUM HAEMORRHAGE
• NO HISTORY OF UNEXPLAINED PERINATAL DEATHS
• NO LARGE FOR DATES eg. MACROSOMIA, POLYHYDRAMNIOS
• NO IUGR \ OLIGOHYDRAMNIOS
• NO DECREASED FETAL MOVEMENTS OR FETAL HEART IRREGULARITIES

 

Patient’s antenatal record must be sent, including her blood results (recent Hb in 3^rd T/M) and any dating ultrasound reports in the 1^st or 2^nd trimesters.

 

A Midwife will deliver them unless there is a problem, consent to same must be given in writing. If the patient requires operation delivery, she has the option of either transferring to the Mandeville Regional Hospital (due to cost) or having her Caesarean Section done at Hargreaves.

 

Booking from general practitioners should not be before 32 weeks and not later than 36 weeks, and booking will be done only on Wednesdays between 9 – 10 am. DR. LAI WILL DO THE ASSESMENT at Hargreaves Maternity on the day of the booking.

Having a child is a remarkable adventure. Many individuals consider it a blessing to be a parent, The process of normal childbirth is categorized in three stages of labour: the shortening and dilation of the cervix , descent and birth of the infant, and birth of the placenta. Stage one consist of three phases; latent, active, and transition

 

Stage One

The latent phase is the longest yet the least intense phase. Contractions become more frequent, helping the cervix will dilate approximately 3 or 4 centimeters and efface (thin out), so your baby can pass through the birth canal.

During the active phase the cervix dilates from 4 to 7 centimeters. The mother may start feel more intense pain or pressure in your back or abdomen during each contraction. She may also feel the urge to push or bear down, but the doctor will ask her to wait until the cervix is completely open.

During the transition, the cervix is fully dilated reaching up to 10 centimeters. Contractions are very strong, painful, and more frequent, occurring every three to four minutes and lasting from 60 to 90 seconds.

 

Stage Two

This stage begins when the cervix is completely opened. At this point, the doctor will give you the OK to push. Your pushing, along with the force of your contractions, will propel your baby through the birth canal. The fontanels (soft spots) on your baby\’s head allow it to fit through the narrow canal.

Your baby\’s head crowns, when the widest part of it reaches the vaginal opening. As soon as the baby\’s head comes out, your doctor will remove the amniotic fluid, blood, and mucus from the baby’s nose and mouth. She will continue to push to help deliver the baby\’s shoulders and body.

Once the baby is delivered the doctor will then, with permission for the parent(s), clamps and cuts the umbilical cord. 

 

Stage Three

After the baby is delivered the female will then deliver the placenta, the organ that nourished the baby inside the womb.

It’s important to note that each woman and each labor is different. The amount of time spent in each stage of delivery will be different. If it is the first pregnancy for the female, labor and delivery usually lasts about 12 to 14 hours. Most times, the process is usually shorter for subsequent pregnancies. 

It’s also important to note that during normal birth the baby is born head-first, through the vagina or birth canal, but may include intervention by a health-care professional to support or help the birth. Some of these interventions may include the following:

Augmentation of labor – In prolonged labor, the contraction of the cervical wall can become weaken. If the contractions are not strengthening by a certain time then, the baby may die in the womb. In this case a health care professional can administer medications such as oxytocin which can stimulate contractions and help to activate pushing.

Listening to the baby’s heartbeat – Monitoring the baby’s heart is very important during delivery. Electronic monitoring of the baby’s heartbeat is essential in ensuring that the baby is not in cardiac arrest during the delivery process.

Artificial rupture of the membranes – During labour, the amniotic (fluid) sac that surrounds the baby breaks so the baby’s head can come down into the birth canal. In active birth if this does not happen, then the health-care provider may create a small hole in the sac in order for the baby to come through the birth process safely.