Towards integrated antenatal care for low-risk pregnancy
KCE Reports 326 (2019)
In Belgium, the provision of prenatal care is varied, is provided by qualified professionals, and is accessible in various settings (hospitals, private clinics, etc.). The downside is the complexity of the care supply. We also observed that parents to-be sometimes do not find their way in the health system maze and are not always able to find answers to their many questions. In addition, some pregnant women still slip through the net whereas others are over-monitored.
For this reason, we have developed a proposal for a “prenatal care pathway” similar to what exists in other countries. This pathway would be supported by a professional network, the composition of which would be adapted according to her specific medical, psychological or social needs and risks. A new type of consultation so-called “individual counselling consultations” (ICC) would allow to develop a care plan in collaboration with the pregnant women. This plan would detail all the important stages of the pregnancy follow-up and implement additional interventions where vulnerabilities are identified. A single contact person would be appointed to coordinate the entire pathway. In this way, parents to-be will have everything they need for informed management of the pregnancy, the birth and the first few weeks of their child’s life.
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