Bounty

Care services for pregnant women and their babies are being undermined by a lack of involvement from family GP's, a report has said.

The medical history of a woman is probably best known by her doctor. However despite this fact, they have minimal contact during the pregnancy.

GP's are being urged to work with consultants and midwives and become more involved with pregnancy care services over the nine months, the study from the King's Fund think tank has said.

GPs continue to play an important role for many women who rely on them to be referred to a midwife or to check the pregnancy. This can lead to confusion among women about who to speak to if they need something, including in an emergency.

The report said GPs could play an important role in all pregnancies, but particularly for women with complex medical or social needs. This may include managing weight gain in obese women, referral to stop-smoking services and discussing genetic testing for those women who need it.

A visit early in pregnancy could also check a woman's general health, including a review of medical history from medical records and a heart examination. The report said a GP could prove vital because women do not always share all their medical history with midwives.

The report said GPs play a "critical role" in ensuring that all relevant information is communicated and shared with midwives or obstetricians.

Copyright Press Association 2010