Parents-to-be in Grimsby are benefiting from a new team of midwives to help them through pregnancy, labour and beyond the birth of their babies.
The Ivy Team of midwives – Joanne Harding, Sarah Chamberlain, Kayla Illingworth, Saskia Lewis, Sian Moore, Phoebe Hope and Laura Sergent – will provide “continuity of care” at antenatal appointments, assist during labour and then visit families after their babies have arrived.
Vicki Booth, Maternity Matron at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, said the team would support expectant families living in three specific postcode areas of the town – DN32 7; DN32 8 and DN31 3.
She said: “Continuity of care teams have the safest outcomes, with high levels of patient satisfaction, because there’s the opportunity for the midwives to build real relationships with families in their care.
“We’re really pleased to add the Ivy Team to our maternity service to help families in Grimsby.”
The Ivy Team is Northern Lincolnshire and Goole’s second continuity of care team following the introduction of Poppy Team in 2020. Now in its sixth year, the Poppy Team, which works from Reynolds Family Hub in Cleethorpes, looks after around 360 families every year and has been so successful, its midwives are now caring for the same parents having their second and third babies.
Vicki said: “Many organisations had to withdraw their continuity of carer teams because of staffing issues and, at one stage, we were the only maternity service in the region with a continuity of carer team.
“We’re so proud that not only were we able to retain Poppy, which is going from strength to strength, but we’re now growing the service with the introduction of Ivy.”
The Ivy Team will support those with complex pregnancies, who may require additional support, as well as families living in the three postcodes. The aim is for only one or two midwives to support the same person when they attend antenatal appointments at the East Marsh Children’s Centre in Grimsby.
They will assist parents-to-be with home births, working with community midwives, and those who choose to have their babies in hospital.
Once they come into the maternity suite at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital to have their babies, a member of the Ivy Team will be with them throughout labour if their named midwives are not available. Families will build relationships with other members of the team for support after their babies are born, ensuring familiar faces throughout their care.
In hospital, the midwives will be part of the Holly Team on the Maternity Unit and the Ivy Team midwives chose their name to reflect their connection, coordination and teamwork with their hospital-based colleagues.
Vicki said: “We know Ivy Team will be a fantastic addition to our maternity services and we know families in our area will welcome their creation to help families throughout pregnancy journeys.”