A GROUP of northern suburbs midwives are celebrating 10 years of supporting local new parents from the beginning of pregnancy to after the child’s birth.

The Northern Area Group Midwifery Practice (NAGMP), based at the Lyell McEwin Hospital (LMH), is a free program available to pregnant women who live inside the hospital’s catchment area.

To be eligible for the program, the mum-to-be needs to want to give birth at the LMH or at home.

LMH nursing and midwifery divisional director Meredith Hobbs said the NAGMP has assisted with over 4000 births since it was first formed.

“NAMGP is a midwifery-led model of care, which means eligible mums-to-be are assigned two midwives, who work together as a team to make sure there is continuity of maternity care,” Ms Hobbs said.

“Providing women with more choices in how their maternity care is delivered is one of our highest priorities and it is a privilege to be able to provide this service to the community.

“I would like to thank every midwife who has contributed to the practice, the popularity and success of the NAMGP is a testament to their hard work and dedication to maternity care in the north and north-east."

The NAMGP also work within the local community, partnering with six Child Parent Centres within the north and north-eastern suburbs to provide appointments outside a hospital setting.

On average, the group helps welcome between 35 and 40 babies every month. It also assisted 14 women conduct home births.

NAMGP nurse unit manager Jolene Clarke said the group tailors its care to each woman’s individual needs to “develop a stronger and more trusting relationship”.

“It is always a pleasure to see family units adding a brand new member, and being able to carry on that relationship into postnatal care during those special but challenging first few weeks is a joy,” she said.

“We welcomed our 4000th baby, a girl, last month on International Day of the Midwife and while every birth is special in its own way, it was a wonderful way to mark the day.”