A team of qualified midwives will provide new mothers and their newborns with check-ups, education, and support during the early postnatal period. With as many as one in three women delivering by Caesarian section at WWRC, staff at the hospital care for a large number of women with high-risk pregnancies.

Executive Director of Nursing at (WWRC) Haila Johar, said, “We are proud to be piloting this programme. By visiting women in their homes shortly after childbirth, HMC’s community midwife team will be able to help identify and prevent many common maternal and newborn health issues and will play an important role in enabling women to make informed decisions about when and where they access care.”

For her part, Director of Nursing at Women’s Wellness and Research Center Fatima Yusuf said: “During the home visit, one of our midwives will assess the physical and emotional well-being of the mother and her newborn, educating her about what to expect in the coming days and weeks, and providing her and her family with support managing the care of their newborn.”

“During the visit, our midwives will also be able to identify if the mother or her baby has any health issues which may need further attention. They will be able to advise the new mother if she, and her baby, requires any additional follow-up care from her primary healthcare provider potentially preventing an unplanned visit to the Emergency Department.”

Currently, the Postnatal Midwifery Home Care Program is only available to women who deliver at WWRC, live in Doha, and have had a high-risk pregnancy or caesarian delivery and require wound care.

The service will be managed by a team of six community midwives, with each team conducting 12 to 14 home visits per month.

Women will be referred to the postnatal midwifery home care team by their discharging physician and their first home visit will be scheduled within 48 to 72 hours of their delivery. Subsequent follow-up visits will be scheduled as needed.