From: Group antenatal care: findings from a pilot randomised controlled trial of REACH Pregnancy Circles
Components of type of care | Pregnancy Circles | Standard care |
---|---|---|
Setting | Community setting | Hospital or community healthcare setting |
Number of appointments | 8 group antenatal sessions following the NICE primipara schedule [16] (at approximately 16, 25, 28, 31, 34, 36, 38 and 40 weeks gestation) 1 postnatal group reunion 4 weeks after the 40-week appointment Participants receive standard scans, specialist appointments and postnatal care (as per local guidelines) | 8 1–1 antenatal clinical appointments (as per NICE primipara schedule) OR 6 1-1 antenatal clinical appointments (as per NICE multipara schedule [16], excluding the 25- and 31-week appointments) Participants receive standard scans, specialist appointments and postnatal care (as per local guidelines) |
Clinical checks | Participants check their own blood pressure and urine Palpation, fundal height measurement and auscultation occur during 1–1 time in the group space | Midwives carry out all checks, including blood pressure and urine Palpation, fundal height measurement and auscultation occur during 1–1 appointments in the clinical room |
Time spent with the midwife | 2-h group sessions (= 16 h). Three to 5 min 1–1 time built into each session | 1–1 approximately 20–30-min clinic appointments (= 2 h 20 min – 3 h 30 min) |
Type of appointment | Group of 5–12 women due within 4 weeks of each other with 1–1 time built-in Opportunity for peer support | 1–1 appointment with the midwife No opportunity for peer support |
Continuity of carer | Antenatal continuity from 2 midwives (plus a postnatal reunion), no intrapartum continuity | Traditional clinics, variable antenatal continuity from the midwife, no intrapartum continuity |
Parent education | Integrated into the model, personalised to group member's needs through participant-led discussions | Participants signposted to separate parent education sessions. Brief information provided during appointments |