My private antenatal package
Pregnancy is a time of great joy. Most women go through their pregnancies without too many problems. But complications can arise and it is important that you get the right expertise and help to get the best quality care and outcome for you and your baby.
You will be seeing me at every visit and will get the needed expertise and advice. This enables me to build a relationship with you and get to know your individual needs before the birth of the baby.
I very much enjoy the one to one attention and continuity of care I am able to give expectant couples during your antenatal visits. You will find me sensitive to your needs and care is very much individualised.
You will be seen regularly throughout the pregnancy and the schedule of visits is as follows:
10 weeks
This is your first booking visit. At this visit, you will have a scan to ‘date’ the pregnancy. This is to ensure your dates are right and also to calculate the estimated date of your baby’s arrival. You can also listen to the baby’s heartbeat.
At this visit, I will also get your detailed medical and previous obstetric history, including any complications you might have had in your previous pregnancies and deliveries. This will inform me about the care in this pregnancy.
You will also get an opportunity to meet my midwife who will check your blood pressure and urine and make arrangements to book you into the NHS hospital where you want to deliver.
11-14 weeks
At this visit, you will have a nuchal scan if you have opted for this. If not, a routine scan of the baby will be performed.
If you wish to have the Harmony Prenatal Test, please let me know. The cost of this test is not included in the routine antenatal package and will incur additional charge.
You will also be offered a number of blood tests to check your blood group, presence of any antibodies, haemoglobin (to check your iron levels), and screening for infections including HIV, Hepatitis B, syphilis, and rubella. You will have the opportunity to ask for further information. If you have chosen to have a nuchal scan, you will also be offered the blood test for the combined test.
20 weeks
At this visit, I will scan your baby’s anatomy in great detail to ensure all major organ systems are normal. I will also measure the baby, check the fluid around the baby and the position of the placenta.
24 weeks
Fetal heart scan with Dr. Casey (Fetal cardiologist)at 352.
Only 1 in 4 major heart abnormalities are routinely picked up at the anomaly scan. That is why you are offered a special cardiac scan for the baby. At this visit, your baby’s heart will be scanned in detail by a specialist with expertise in this area.
25 weeks
At this visit, you will be able to see 3D/4D images of the baby. This is entirely dependent on the position of the baby, fluid around the baby and the position of the placenta.
30, 34, 37 and 39 weeks
At these visits, you will have regular growth scans of the baby. I will measure the baby to ensure appropriate growth, check the internal environment of the baby including the fluid volume and the placenta, and the baby’s movements.
At all these visits you will have your blood pressure and urine checked by the midwife.
At 30 weeks, you will also be offered blood tests to re-check your haemoglobin (to ensure you are not anaemic), your blood sugar and repeat check of any antibodies in your blood.
At 34 weeks, I will have a detailed discussion with you regarding plans for labour and delivery. All decisions will be individualised and arrived jointly with you.
At 39 weeks, you will be offered a vaginal examination to assess your cervix and a ‘sweep of the membranes’. A membrane sweep increases the chance of you getting into labour spontaneously. Again, this will be at your discretion and individual circumstances.
Please be aware that the above visit schedule is only a rough guidance and may vary according to individual patient need and your risk profile in pregnancy.
Delivery
Delivery will happen at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital.
The care in hospital will be as an NHS patient. I (in my absence, one of my nominated deputies) will endeavour to lead the care of your labour and delivery.
Women who have private healthcare insurance and whose caesarean section is covered under the terms of their insurance are deemed fully private and it is important that you bring this to my attention at an early stage.
Postnatal visit
This usually happens around 6-8 weeks. I am happy to discuss any issues around your general health, feeding and contraception. You will also be offered a detailed baby check with our Consultant Paediatrician, Dr David Millar.
You will be seeing me at every visit and will get the needed expertise and advice. This enables me to build a relationship with you and get to know your individual needs before the birth of the baby.
I very much enjoy the one to one attention and continuity of care I am able to give expectant couples during your antenatal visits. You will find me sensitive to your needs and care is very much individualised.
You will be seen regularly throughout the pregnancy and the schedule of visits is as follows:
10 weeks
This is your first booking visit. At this visit, you will have a scan to ‘date’ the pregnancy. This is to ensure your dates are right and also to calculate the estimated date of your baby’s arrival. You can also listen to the baby’s heartbeat.
At this visit, I will also get your detailed medical and previous obstetric history, including any complications you might have had in your previous pregnancies and deliveries. This will inform me about the care in this pregnancy.
You will also get an opportunity to meet my midwife who will check your blood pressure and urine and make arrangements to book you into the NHS hospital where you want to deliver.
11-14 weeks
At this visit, you will have a nuchal scan if you have opted for this. If not, a routine scan of the baby will be performed.
If you wish to have the Harmony Prenatal Test, please let me know. The cost of this test is not included in the routine antenatal package and will incur additional charge.
You will also be offered a number of blood tests to check your blood group, presence of any antibodies, haemoglobin (to check your iron levels), and screening for infections including HIV, Hepatitis B, syphilis, and rubella. You will have the opportunity to ask for further information. If you have chosen to have a nuchal scan, you will also be offered the blood test for the combined test.
20 weeks
At this visit, I will scan your baby’s anatomy in great detail to ensure all major organ systems are normal. I will also measure the baby, check the fluid around the baby and the position of the placenta.
24 weeks
Fetal heart scan with Dr. Casey (Fetal cardiologist)at 352.
Only 1 in 4 major heart abnormalities are routinely picked up at the anomaly scan. That is why you are offered a special cardiac scan for the baby. At this visit, your baby’s heart will be scanned in detail by a specialist with expertise in this area.
25 weeks
At this visit, you will be able to see 3D/4D images of the baby. This is entirely dependent on the position of the baby, fluid around the baby and the position of the placenta.
30, 34, 37 and 39 weeks
At these visits, you will have regular growth scans of the baby. I will measure the baby to ensure appropriate growth, check the internal environment of the baby including the fluid volume and the placenta, and the baby’s movements.
At all these visits you will have your blood pressure and urine checked by the midwife.
At 30 weeks, you will also be offered blood tests to re-check your haemoglobin (to ensure you are not anaemic), your blood sugar and repeat check of any antibodies in your blood.
At 34 weeks, I will have a detailed discussion with you regarding plans for labour and delivery. All decisions will be individualised and arrived jointly with you.
At 39 weeks, you will be offered a vaginal examination to assess your cervix and a ‘sweep of the membranes’. A membrane sweep increases the chance of you getting into labour spontaneously. Again, this will be at your discretion and individual circumstances.
Please be aware that the above visit schedule is only a rough guidance and may vary according to individual patient need and your risk profile in pregnancy.
Delivery
Delivery will happen at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital.
The care in hospital will be as an NHS patient. I (in my absence, one of my nominated deputies) will endeavour to lead the care of your labour and delivery.
Women who have private healthcare insurance and whose caesarean section is covered under the terms of their insurance are deemed fully private and it is important that you bring this to my attention at an early stage.
Postnatal visit
This usually happens around 6-8 weeks. I am happy to discuss any issues around your general health, feeding and contraception. You will also be offered a detailed baby check with our Consultant Paediatrician, Dr David Millar.
Copyright: Priscilla Devaseelan 2014
