being pregnant

Once you know you are pregnant, there are several important decisions you need to make. These include choosing where you want to give birth (eg, at your own home (or a friend’s), in a small maternity hospital or at a base hospital), and how you would like to give birth. You also need to choose a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) who will support your choices. Your LMC can be a midwife, a general practitioner, or a specialist obstetrician.

The first few weeks of pregnancy up until the 14th week are called the first trimester. During this time look at the options available to you so that you can register with your chosen LMC as soon as possible after the 14th week, which is at the start of the second trimester.

You can phone 0800 MUM 2 BE (0800 686 223) for names and phone numbers of Lead Maternity Carers in your area. Once you have decided who your LMC will be, you will be asked to sign a form called Registration of Woman with LMC. Once you have registered with an LMC, your LMC is responsible for the maternity care provided to you throughout your pregnancy and until about four to six weeks after the birth of your baby. Your baby’s care will then be transferred to your chosen Well Child provider.

From the time you register until your final maternity check, your LMC, or backup, is available to help you. This availability is for phone advice, or visit if necessary, and is 24 hours a day,  seven days a week. You can choose to change your LMC at any time, if you wish.

Article provided courtesy of The Ministry of Health