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Table 1 The two types of care

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