First baby boy and girl born through midwifery continuity team serving Newry area

Team Sapphire, the second Continuity of Midwifery Carer (CoMC) team in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, has welcomed its first baby boy and baby girl born through this new expanded model of care.

Luca Powell and Nova McGuigan, both from the Newry area, were the first baby boy and girl born through Team Sapphire since the team went on call on August 5.

Team Sapphire was delighted to welcome back baby Nova and baby Luca to Daisy Hill Hospital to present them with their personalised keepsake teddies for being the first boy and girl to be born as part of this new model of midwifery care.

placeholder image — Team Sapphire was delighted to welcome back baby Nova and baby Luca to Daisy Hill Hospital to present them with their personalised keepsake teddies for being the first boy and girl to be born as part of this new model of midwifery care.

Team Sapphire is a small team of eight midwives who follow mums-to-be through every step of their pregnancy journey in the Newry, Bessbrook, Camlough, Mayobridge and Rathfriland areas, building strong relationships with them and their families and providing seamless support from booking through to labour and postnatal period.

Baby Nova is Amy’s first baby and said that “it was comforting as a first-time mum to know all the midwives involved in my care”.

Amy Turner and baby Nova McGuigan with Oonagh, their named midwife from Team Sapphire.

Maria Garvey, CoMC Lead Midwife, said:

“Continuity of care teams differ in that mums-to-be are assigned a named midwife who follows them throughout their pregnancy journey – including being present during labour and the birth of their baby.

“If for any reason the named midwife cannot attend the whole journey another member of the team would be present – who they will also have met at meet the team events.”

Currently there are 130 other families with Team Sapphire with a total of 31 babies born to date.