Choice and Personalisation

Introduction

In Lancashire and South Cumbria we want to ensure that women and birthing people’s maternity care is personalised to their needs and those of the baby and family. Women and birthing people should be able to make decisions about their care during pregnancy, during birth and after their baby’s birth, through an ongoing dialogue with professionals that empowers them. They should feel supported to make well informed decisions through a relationship of mutual trust and respect with health professionals, and their choices should be acted upon.

Understanding all your options means you can make choices and be fully involved in decisions about your individual care. This will help to make your experience positive even if unexpected things happen along the way.

Your care providers (the midwives and doctors at your chosen NHS Trust) will listen to your preferences, answer your questions and concerns, and provide you with unbiased information, explaining the risks and benefits of each option in any situation. You will have regular opportunities to have conversations about your personal circumstances. Being informed will mean that you can make the decisions which are right for you.

We would encourage you to get in touch soon after you have a positive pregnancy test so that your personalised care and support plan can begin. Every woman is entitled to antenatal care and the early weeks of pregnancy are significant in the baby’s growth and development so we would love to hear from you soon.