Hundreds of vulnerable pregnant women and birthing people are benefiting from specialist maternity support on Teesside, thanks to a newly developed midwifery team.
As part of the maternity unit, the “Indigo team” was formed at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, to provide bespoke care and individualised plan to pregnant individuals – who are identified as vulnerable or at risk.
They often find it challenging to engage with the hospital staff due to their history, which may lead to adverse effects on the care they receive during maternity.
Various reports relayed severe disparities for women on Teesside such as falling in the top ten percent of deprived areas nationally; a region with the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in England and Wales; a high percentage of childbearing women struggling with their mental health and more.
This highlighted an urgent change of direction in how maternity services were provided to vulnerable pregnant individuals.
Community midwifery manager Gina Blewitt understood the need for a different approach to care was needed for these individuals – where their and their unborn child’s health was in danger of slipping into further risk.
As a result, she set out to establish a specialist team where these women could access enhanced care – without any judgments.
She said:
In 2024 it still astounds me that women still die having babies. We now know that women’s social complexities and vulnerabilities are putting them more at risk of poorer outcomes for themselves and their babies.”
Lead specialist midwife for vulnerable women Rachel Fairbairn secured funding for a new midwifery team from Middlesbrough Council and Redcar and Cleveland Council through the national ‘Start for Life’ initiative.
As a result, the Indigo team was formed and since then, they have successfully recruited two full-time specialist midwives and five full-time maternity support workers.
To help identify at-risk expectant mothers and provide personalised care that caters to their needs, the team devised a “complex social need assessment tool”.
Utilising the assessment tool women are allocated to the most appropriate pathway of care. Either a specialist midwife will be assigned to the individual, or a joint approach where the individual would have a traditional community midwife and an enhanced maternity support worker.
Gina added: “We are very grateful to the local authorities and the LMNS (Local Maternity and Neonatal System) for providing the funding to help establish the Indigo team.
It has enabled some of our families with the greatest need to access support and care that is tailored to their individual needs.”
Besides providing specialist care to these group of individuals, the team also organises mental health support groups such as walk and talk, aqua natal and antenatal education.
These sessions have provided a source of encouragement to the vulnerable expectant mothers – helping them to engage actively with the medical team.