A new team of Dorset County Hospital midwives will be focusing their care on mums-to-be in north Dorset.

It comes after a national review of maternity services highlighted that expectant mothers and their families would prefer to be cared for by a small team of midwives they can form a bond with.

With this in mind, a group of midwives from DCH have come together to form The Cranberry Team.

The team of eight will provide continuity of care for expectant parents living in Blandford, Sturminster Newton and surrounding areas.

Expectant mothers will receive their care throughout their pregnancy from their named midwife or fellow colleague in the team.

They will also be invited to attend ‘Meet the Midwife’ sessions to give them the opportunity to become familiar with the rest of the team.

In addition, they will also be invited to attend informal discussions around birth and parenthood, allowing them to meet other expectant parents living locally.

When going into labour a member of The Cranberry Team will be called to the hospital to provide care and support for the mother and family. Women who choose to have a homebirth will receive the same pattern of care from the Trust’s Cygnet Homebirth Team.

The Cranberry Team is the first of a range of teams to be created by maternity that will be focused on geographical areas or pregnancy-related conditions.