Feedback led to online new parent sessions, midwife says

The parent craft education programme gives advice to expectant parents

Moving education sessions for expectant parents from face-to-face to online was based on feedback from those set to use the services, a senior midwife for Manx Care has said.

The parent craft education programme includes information about pain relief, infant feeding, assisted birth and a virtual tour of the maternity ward.

Midwife Regan Baggley said the change would mean parents could "watch at their leisure and go back when they want to remind themselves" of the advice.

She said some parents had found the day-long class could "be a lot of information to process" and the advice had now been broken down into "bite size chunks".

The new format features presentations and videos recorded by midwives who have previously delivered the sessions.

Ms Baggley said the decision, which mirrors the NHS England approach, was "not taken lightly" and in-person sessions could return if the team find the new format is "not working for any reason".

The recordings had the potential to reach a "wider audience", as sometimes the face-to-face sessions "could become full as we were limited by number of places in a group", she said.

'Hands-on'

Concerns had been raised that the online resources would not have the "same impact" as face-to-face sessions.

However, the senior midwife said: "We want parents to use it as a platform and use the information to have conversations with midwives during antenatal appointments."

She also highlighted the introduction of two support workers who joined the maternity team earlier this year.

Ms Baggley said the aim was to develop the new recruits' knowledge and experience and do practical sessions on the wards after the baby has arrived in future.

It would mean parents "aren’t missing out on some of the skills from the classes, and they can get hands-on support in the hospital", she added.