The Orchid Includes
- An initial booking appointment; a full medical history is taken, your plans and options for your pregnancy and birth are discussed.
- Antenatal appointments at home; blood pressure check, urine test, listen to baby’s heartbeat and assess position and size plus an opportunity to discuss your wellbeing and any concerns you might have; visits are individualised but will usually be at 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40+ weeks.
- Private scans or complementary therapy treatments
- An extended birth prep session at around 36 weeks gives you and your birth partner an opportunity to discuss your birth options, what to expect from labour and birth, your preferences in a variety of circumstances and how to prepare for the postnatal period.
- Labour and birth midwifery care; early labour assessment and attendance at your birth from your midwives at home or in hospital, giving you one- to-one support and continuity of care throughout.
- Postnatal midwifery care: Care bespoke to your own needs from your named midwives in your own home, hospital or other named location during the six week period following your birth, with frequent visits in the first week and extended postnatal support thereafter. Includes personal breastfeeding support and newborn blood spot screening.
- Cranial osteopathy treatment for mother and baby post birth.
Additional Information
We usually recommend you have your scans and routine blood tests done at your selected hospital to ensure they have your records if required at a later stage of your pregnancy or birth.
With the Orchid package, you can choose to either continue with your NHS appointments in addition to those with your Neighbourhood Midwife, or you may prefer to opt out. This will not affect, in any way, your access to NHS care and if at any stage during your pregnancy, you or your midwife feel you need to see a consultant obstetrician, your midwife can refer you and will attend the appointment with you.
During these many appointments, the bond between you and your midwife will grow and develop into a close and trusting relationship. Your midwife will have an in-depth understanding of your needs by the time you go into labour and will be your constant support.