Wexford General Hospital, Wexford, Ireland

Wexford Maternity Unit is a progressive and busy unit providing obstetric, Midwifery-led, gynaecological and neonatal services to the people of Wexford and surrounding areas. Currently we have 50 wte midwives, 3 Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologists, 8 non-consultant hospital doctors and 3 Consultant Paediatricians.

Profile of Wexford General Hospital Maternity Unit

The Unit consists of

6 Bedded Delivery Suite
23 Ante-natal/Post-natal ward
SCBU 4 cots
Ante-Natal ClinicIHCMS

Deliveries 2005

1897 births, 25 sets twins
Forceps 2.8%

Services in Wexford Maternity Unit

• Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit
• Ante-Natal Clinics
• Midwife-led Clinics
• Ante-Natal Classes
• Labour
• Birth Partner welcome at all times
• Birth Plans Facilitated
• Mobilization encouraged
• Baths encouraged during labour
• Light Diet in labour
• 24 hr Epidural service available
• TENS available
• Birthing Balls
• Alternative positions for delivery
• Skin to skin
• Breastfeeding encouraged and facilitated (3 Lactation Consultants)
• Post-Natal
• Breastfeeding on demand
• Early discharge available
• Supporting new mothers to develop parenting skills

Integrated Hospital Community Midwifery Led Service (IHCMS)

The demand for Home-Birth and Domino care by pregnant women in the Wexford area is provided by a team of four midwives. The ethos and philosophy of this service was the development of midwifery led care for women with low risk or no risk pregnancies in the hospital or home setting.

Special Care Baby Unit

This unit is staffed by special trained neo-natal staff.

Shift times:

08.30 - 17.00; 08.30 - 21.15, Night duty every 6 weeks. All rosters are planned in advance.

Education Opportunities

Continuing professional development is encouraged.

The Nursing and Midwifery Planning Unit co-ordinates training in the following:

• 18hr breast feeding course (3 Lactation Consultants)
• Fetal Monitoring
• Intravenous cannulation
• Perineal suturing
• ALSO courses (2 ALSO Instructors)
• Neonatal resuscitation (3 NRP Instructors)
• STABLE courses (1 STABLE instructor)

In Wexford Maternity Unit specialised midwifery care is provided by a dedicated team of midwives who provide individualised care to pregnant women and their families. Our midwifery practice is based on best practice guidelines and involves advocacy for the individual woman and her family.