Manx Care plans to introduce drop-in sessions for ‘Meet Your Midwife’, allowing families to connect with midwives and maternity support workers.
The latest drop-in sessions follows Manx Care receiving backlash after taking parent education sessions online, instead of in person.
It decided to take the sessions online after evaluating the online Parent Craft model, which is currently employed in the UK and Channel Islands, based on user feedback.
Support For New Parents
Manx Care has also introduced Dads classes, which coincided with the shift to online parent classes.
A Manx Care spokesperson said: “A survey indicated that fathers felt overlooked since most resources were aimed at mothers. T
“hey shared that this lack of inclusivity impacted their bonding experience and ability to support mothers, especially in the early days. It was crucial for dads to be able to assist their partners during this time.”
Although the initiative was started by the team at the Jane Crookall Maternity Unit, the group is run by Dads on their own time, encouraging peer support and community involvement with help from local collaborators.
Reach Out to Midwife
Any new mother seeking advice during the early days can reach out to a midwife for assistance during the first 28 days, as well as to a health visitor whom they will meet during the antenatal period.
Manx Care told Manx.News that “both mothers and fathers can access community hubs across the island for advice, guidance, and support”.
Mums groups are facilitated by Perinatal Mental Health Liaison Team throughout the island.
There is a dedicated mums group for women who have recognised a need for perinatal mental health support through the team (midwife or health visitor), which includes listening visits for the entire family.
6 Comments