The Midwifery Group Practice is a team of six midwives who provide continuity of care. Photo: Erin Hee.
Wagga women can now see the same midwife throughout their pregnancy, with the launch of the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) in Wagga Wagga following recommendations from the NSW birth trauma inquiry released in May 2024.
The MGP is a team of six dedicated midwives, with the capacity to provide continuity of care for up to 180 women annually, up until six weeks after they give birth.
Women in Leeton and Deniliquin also have access to the service.
Under this model, women like Laura Piffero, who is 37 weeks pregnant, have the comfort of knowing that the same group of midwives who are familiar with their wants and needs will be there for her.
“I’ve had one situation where I had a bit of a scare and I got called in. I met with a different midwife who was familiar with everything that I’ve gone through with my pregnancy,” she said.
“It wasn’t like I was introducing myself to someone who knew nothing about me.
“You don’t have to be in the middle of labour explaining your wants and needs to someone.”
While she had a fantastic first birth, she felt that there was a “mismatch of communication” with the “large clinic situation” under the GP Shared Care Program. Now, she is excited to welcome her second baby into the world.
“I’m feeling very prepared, and I’ve been offered a lot of information [and] everything I could possibly want,” she said.
“It’s amazing that it’s a free service.”
One of the midwives, Molly Oeng, saw how well this model worked while she was in Darwin, and decided to put her hand up when it became available in Wagga in June.
She enjoyed being able to see the entire pregnancy through. Previously, women would come into the clinic with the hope of seeing the same midwives, but were more likely to see different midwives or doctors.
“The women say they’ve loved seeing familiar faces throughout the whole journey,” she said.
“They feel comfortable, safe, and heard.”
Kirsty Morton was one of the first to “throw herself under the bus” for the MGP.
“It’s really nice, from a midwife’s perspective, to develop that rapport and friendship [and] prepare them for one of the most exciting times of their life,” she said.
“You don’t have to spend all your shift building that rapport and trust and then hand over to another midwife.
“If having that same person and point of contact throughout your pregnancy is important to you, it’s absolutely a good choice.”
The MGP did not start until towards the end of Shanarah Burdett’s pregnancy, but she said her experience going through the group practice was “really good”.
She got “pretty lucky” and saw the same midwife during her previous pregnancy, which made her decide to join the practice even though she was close to giving birth.
“I saw a few of the girls, and I just felt really comfortable,” she said.
“This is my third baby, and it was just nice knowing that I had the same familiar faces the whole way throughout and then at the birth as well.”
Having built that trust and rapport with the same midwife made postnatal care “not as daunting”. She recalled running around to clean her house after her first two pregnancies because she had no idea who would be in charge of her postpartum care.
“It was making me nervous, the thought of not [having a familiar face],” she said.
“Birth is pretty scary, so it’s kind of like having a friend there to hold your hand and make sure everything goes smoothly.”
The Midwifery Group Practice service is available in Leeton and Deniliquin as well. You can get a referral through a GP in Wagga, or the service can be offered to you when you ring to book in.
