Adapted from the Maternal Medicine Network service specification, 2021.
Access to specialist care
Maternal medicine networks include pre-pregnancy, antenatal and postnatal care for women who have significant medical problems that pre-date or arise in pregnancy or the puerperium.
Maternal morbidity and mortality are increased by diseases that pre-date pregnancy, and by complications that arise during pregnancy. Pregnancy induces significant changes in all aspects of physiology and so in treatment, optimal outcomes are achieved where care for pregnant women is guided by consultants with specific pregnancy expertise. As many of these conditions are uncommon, advice – and for some women, care – should be provided in a small number of designated specialist centres to concentrate expertise and improve outcomes.”
The SWMMN has collaborated with Retrieve, the dedicated adult critical care transfer service for South West England, focussing on the transfer of critically ill pregnant women in our region. Pregnant women may require transfer around the region for a variety of reasons, including for pregnancy-related issues such as peri-partum cardiomyopathy requiring specialist cardiac care, or issues unrelated to pregnancy, such as major trauma.
These situations can be challenging for patients and those caring for them, and Retrieve can help in providing decision support and clinical care when these patients are critically ill.
