The Midwifery-led Birth Unit (MLBU)

There are 39 community midwives based at the Rosie Hospital (Women's Services at Addenbrooke's), 21 of whom work part-time. They provide antenatal and postnatal care to the women of Cambridge and the surrounding geographical area.

Teamworking: the midwives are divided into four teams:

  • The City team: predominately for Cambridge City

  • The East team: part of Cambridge City and out towards Newmarket, Burwell, Linton and Sawston

  • The West team: part of Cambridge City and westwards to Gamlingay, Steeple Morden and Bassingbourn

  • The North Team: part of Willingham, up to Welney and over to Isleham and Kennet.

What do community midwives do?

Community midwives have their own caseloads, which are defined through the general practices that they work closely with.

The care provided is evidence based (ensuring the most up-to-date safe care) and is dependent upon both a risk assessment and the individual needs of each woman. If there are no obvious concerns, then the pregnant woman is offered community-based care, and attends the Rosie Hospital only for her ultrasound scans and to deliver her baby.

Community midwives are also involved in improving the health of the public, which encompasses:

  • Health promotion

  • Smoking-cessation advice

  • Working with ethnic and vulnerable families

  • Raising awareness of domestic violence

They provide a vital link between the community-based and hospital-based care of pregnant women, playing an important role within the multidisciplinary teams of both sectors.

Classes for pregnant women:

Community midwives also offer parent-education classes, many of which are held in the local geographical area, and they offer some aquanatal classes.

Training staff:

They are involved with facilitating the community aspect of training student midwives, as well as student nurses and occasionally medical students.

Home-based births:

Those women who are keen to deliver their baby at home can discuss this with their community midwife; currently, 2% of the deliveries that are under the care of the Rosie Hospital occur at home. The community midwives are experienced in supporting women who wish to deliver their baby at home, but each case needs to be discussed on an individual basis.

Also on this website:

For further information contact: The Community Midwife Manager, Tel: 01223 217 658 or 01223 245 151 (switchboard); bleep: 152-517.

Last updated: 17 July 2005
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