BRUNTSFIELD
MEDICAL PRACTICE
INFORMATION
ABOUT OUR
MATERNITY SERVICES
Dr Susan McL GallowayBusiness Manager: Brenda M Mair
Dr Michael P Cash
Dr Judith M Penny
Dr Ian J Kerr
Dr Nicholas I Walls
Dr Judith L Boyd
At the beginning … pre-pregnancy
We would be happy to discuss your plans for pregnancy to ensure that you are in optimal health, and to help you avoid any unnecessary risks to your pregnancy.
Here are some measures you can take before you conceive.
Make sure you are IMMUNE TO RUBELLA (German Measles). If a woman contracts Rubella whilst in the early stages of pregnancy, serious congenital abnormalities can occur in the foetus. All women should have been immunised against Rubella by the time they leave school. However, you may not have been offered this immunisation or, if you were immunised, it may have failed to be effective. We aim to test all women who are using contraception or who are attending for well-women checks. Our Practice Nurses will be happy to arrange a blood test if you have not had one done. Please ask for your medical record to be checked if you are unsure.
Try to stop SMOKING. There is convincing evidence that smoking is associated with some pregnancy problems and poorer health for infants and children. Try to get your partner to stop too!
Keep your ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION to a minimum (if possible, do not drink alcohol at all). Your partner should also keep to the recommended safe limit (less than 21 units (for men) per week).
Discuss any ROUTINE MEDICATION with your usual GP. Some drugs are dangerous in early pregnancy, and you should discuss any over-the-counter medication with the pharmacist.
Discuss any HEREDITARY CONDITIONS in your own or your partner’s family. There are tests for some conditions (for example cystic fibrosis).
Take FOLATE SUPPLEMENTS (400mcg bought from the chemist) since these have been shown to reduce the risk of spina bifida. They should be taken from before conception until the 12th week of pregnancy.
Are you pregnant?
It is helpful to keep a note of the date of your periods while you are trying to conceive. As soon as you miss a period, you can submit a pregnancy test by asking for a pregnancy urine specimen pack at reception. This will be sent to the hospital laboratory for testing. Remember to put your full name on the specimen tube, and to enter on the form the date of the first day of bleeding of your last menstrual period.
You can telephone for the result on the second working day after leaving your specimen. For confidentiality reasons, you will be asked for confirmation of your identity and nobody else can be told the result without your written authorisation (not even your partner!).
Alternatively, you may choose to do a home test using a kit from the chemist. These tests are very accurate, and we do not usually need to repeat a test at the laboratory.
When your pregnancy is confirmed…
Decisions – there are two to be made.
Where would you like to have your baby? From whom would you like most of your antenatal care?
Where to have your baby
The choices are:
Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France – this recently built maternity unit has a full range of facilities and caters for normal deliveries as well as those requiring sophisticated obstetric expertise or paediatric support.
St John’s Hospital, Livingston – this is much further away, but an option, which is available if you wish.
Home Birth – the GPs of this Practice do not personally conduct home births. We feel that hospital birth is probably much better for mother and baby, and that too few women want home births for us to keep up the considerable expertise, which is required. We are happy to look after you and your baby as soon as you return home. The Community Midwifery Team can arrange a home birth, and a hospital consultant supports them if there are any difficulties.
Antenatal care …
Antenatal clinics take place at Bruntsfield Medical Practice on Tuesday afternoon. Our Community Midwife, or another member of her midwifery team runs the clinic. As well as coming to the practice for check ups, you will attend the Booking Clinic early in pregnancy where you will have a scan and antenatal diagnostic tests (e.g. spina-bifida and amniocentesis testing) will be discussed with you. The Booking Clinic is currently held in ChalmersHospital where you will see your midwife who will help with your ante and post-natal care. Antenatal check-ups can be done by the GP of your choice in normal surgeries, but please tell the receptionist that you are an antenatal patient so that a double appointment can be allocated.
Our policy is to provide continuity of care and, if possible, you will see the same GP and Midwife at every visit. In this way, you have the chance to get to know the GP, Midwife and Health Visitors. You will be invited to meet the Health Visiting Team in the last month of pregnancy. Most of the GPs who provide antenatal care also conduct post natal checks for babies and their mothers, so there will still be continuity after your baby is born. At the clinic, you will begin to get to know other women who live in the same area, and who are at the same stage in their pregnancy – we find many patients appreciate this.
We aim to offer a high standard of personal care and continuity through consecutive pregnancies, and in the early years of your children’s lives.
Hospital care…
A few women attend the hospital antenatal clinic for all their care, usually if this, or a previous pregnancy, has been complicated.
Midwife-led care…
A team of midwives will be responsible for your care, and in the future should be participating in ‘intra-partum’ care in the hospital. Even if you opt for midwife-led care, your GP would like to see you from time to time during the pregnancy (perhaps for one or two of your check-ups) to keep in touch with how your pregnancy is going. Your GP will also see you if the midwife needs help with treating any minor complications or pregnancy e.g. infections, anaemia.
Emergency Care
If anything worries you about your pregnancy, please contact us for advice. If the situation is non-urgent, you may choose to speak to your usual GP on the telephone. The receptionist can tell you when this is possible, or she can take a message, and your GP will be happy to return your call. You can also speak directly to the midwives who are available from 8am – 4.30pm. Messages can be left on their answer machine if non-urgent.
There is always a GP on duty for emergencies, who can be contacted during normal working hours by telephoning the Practice. You can ask to speak on the telephone to the duty GP, who will return your call if he or she is not immediately available or, if necessary, you can request a home visit. An open surgery is held each morning to accommodate patients who do not feel able to wait for the next booked appointment – please telephone to check on the time.
Emergency appointments are available each afternoon – again, please telephone to check on times.
When the Practice is closed, you should telephone the out of hours treatment centre, telephone NHS 24 (08454 24 24 24), to speak to the emergency doctor who can give you advice over the phone or see you at the out of hours treatment centre.
Nearer to the time of delivery your Midwife will tell you how and under what circumstances to contact the Labour Ward.
Parenthood classes (for first time parents)
These are educational and supportive group sessions run by the Health Visitors and Midwives to deal with your questions about, and prepare you for, pregnancy, birth and caring for your new baby. Please contact your Health Visitor to book a place. Early booking is essential. These classes also provide the opportunity to meet other couples living locally for ongoing friendship and support after the birth of your baby.
Breastfeeding
We are committed to promoting breastfeeding; information and support is provided in parentcraft classes and by Midwives, Health Visitors and GPs post-natal. If breastfeeding does not suit you, we will respect and support your decision.
Other Classes
The National Childbirth Trust is an active organisation locally, and its classes are popular and have an excellent reputation. The National Childbirth Trust breastfeeding counsellors and post-natal groups also complement the service provided by the Practice team and by the Simpson’s Centre for Reproductive Health.
After the birth of your baby …
Post-natal care
We are happy to look after you when you return home from hospital, so please telephone the Practice to let us know the day after you return home. After a straightforward birth, especially for women with the experience of an older child, this can be within a few hours of the baby’s birth. The Community Midwife will attend you at home for the first ten days.
Arrangements can be made for your GP to examine your new baby, usually on the next normal working day, if the hospital paediatrician has not already done this.
The Community Midwives and Health Visitors will offer you on-going support and encouragement, and are available for advice by telephone or to visit you at home as necessary.
The GP you have seen during your pregnancy will contact you soon after you return home to ensure you are recovering well, and that the baby is thriving. Your GP will also be happy to help with any problems you, the Midwife or the Health Visitor may be concerned about.
When you register your baby’s birth, the Registrar will give you a white form on which there is a number. When you come to formally register your baby as a patient of the Practice, this number will be needed, so please give it to the receptionist or Health Visitor.
Well-Baby Clinic – Wednesday Afternoon
The Well-Baby Clinic is held on Wednesday afternoon from 2 pm until 3.30pm, and no appointment is required. A Health Visitor, aided by a Staff Nurse or a Health Assistant, is available for developmental checks, weight checks and advice.
Health Visitor Immunisation Clinics – Wednesday & Thursday Morning
The Health Visitor Immunisation Clinic is on Wednesday and Thursday morning from 9.00am until 11.00am by appointment. Please telephone 228 7502. Immunisations are administered at these clinics by the Health Visitors, who are also available for weight checks and advice.
Reminder! Please do not bring your child to any of the baby clinics if he/she has any illness which you believe could be dangerous to other babies, young children or pregnant women. If someone other than a parent brings your children for immunisation, written consent must be received before immunisations can be given.
Post-natal check-up
Please make a 30-minute appointment for a post-natal check six weeks after the birth of your baby with your usual GP. Your baby’s six-week developmental check can be done at the same time. If you are attending without your baby, then a 20-minute appointment should be made.
Contraception
The Practice offers a full range of contraceptive services, and these can be discussed with your GP or Health Visitor. Arrangements can be made at the six-week check for fitting diaphragms or intra-uterine contraceptive devices, as well as prescription of oral contraception or discussion of other methods.
Some useful information …
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Review: Dec 08
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Maternity and Baby Clinic Staff at Bruntsfield Medical Practice
GPs
Dr Susan Galloway
Dr Michael Cash
Dr Judith Penny
Dr Ian Kerr
Dr Nick Walls
Dr Jude Boyd
Dr Caroline Calvert
Dr Gillian Kidd (Higher Professional Trainee)
Dr Emma Hall (GP Retainer)
Health Visitor Team
Ann Fraser, Health Visitor
Ann Gaskell, Health Visitor
Fiona Maxwell, Health Visitor
Bridget King, Staff Nurse
Alison Sutherland (Health Assistant)
Gillian Proudfoot (Administrator)
Community Midwife attached to Bruntsfield Medical Practice
Evelyn Faulkner
Some useful telephone numbers:
Bruntsfield Medical Practice / 228 6081BMP – Health Visitors Direct Line / 228 7502
After Hours – for recorded instructions / 228 6081
Out of Hours Treatment Centre (NHS 24) / 08454 24 24 24
Community Midwives / 536 9847
National Childbirth Trust / 225 9191
Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health
Triage / 536 1000
242 2657
Labour Ward / 242 2542
St John’sHospital, Livingston / 01506 419666
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Review: Dec 08
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