Photo: Stock.Xchng

In the past, your doctor would have played a central role in your pregnancy, but a report published by the King’s Fund shows a dramatic decline in the average GP’s involvement in maternity care. Troublingly, this decline is having a negative effect on the care of pregnant women. The report shows that institutional changes have led to this decline and involvement, but also suggests changes that’ll increase your GP’s importance as you prepare for your baby’s birth.

Signposting

Today, your GP might do little more than pointing you in the right direction when it comes to care for your pregnancy – and that’ll often be the direction of other healthcare professionals like midwives and consultants. While these people also have a vital role to play, there’s a worry that this might lead to a fragmented process of care – with no central figure to guide and supervise the medical attention you receive while pregnant.

Ambivalent

Photo: Stock.Xchng

The root of the problem, the report suggests, is government policies that seem ‘ambivalent’ about the role that a GP should play in a pregnancy. The report lists policy changes that have seen your doctor move from a vital role in care during your pregnancy to a sidelined figure – but also suggests changes that’ll reverse this process. The Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists are said to support the findings, too.

What’s being done

The King’s Fund recommends additional training for GPs, and that these doctors take responsibility for health checks and counselling in the early stages of a pregnancy, as well as some ante-natal care. While you’ll be visiting all kinds of professionals to ensure the health of your baby, get your doctor involved and make sure that she or he is your first stop when it comes to your pregnancy queries.

Tags: doctor, pregnancy