MOTHERS-TO-BE in Gwent can have more of a say over how and where to have their babies, following the launch of a new midwife-led care service.

The aim is to give pregnant women more input into the care packages they select, giving them the most extensive range of options for before, during and after their birth in the safest possible environment.

The new service, known as Midwifery Led Care, has been launched by Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust. It is available to women who are having a straightforward pregnancy - one that is estimated as low risk against a series of criteria.

The service aims to help mothers-to-be with the total support of a midwife throughout, whether the birth takes place at home, at a birth centre, or in hospital.

It is backed by recent research showing that care from a named midwife from an early stage helps mothers feel more confident and more in control of the help and support they would best like to have, and to continue having during the first month of care at home.

Midwifery Led Care aims to highlight the natural aspects of childbirth, with less intervention - unless necessary - and more choices in the support being offered in medical care, in community care and in social need.

Gwent midwives have played a leading role in the service at the popular Caerphilly birth centre at Caerphilly Miners' Hospital in the last couple of years, and the new Gwent-wide scheme will seek to build on that success.

"Midwifery Led Care is seen as the future for many mothers-to-be to have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience," said the trust's consultant midwife Grace Thomas.

"Pregnancy and childbirth are natural processes, and we want to ensure that optimum care is available for this at all stages."

A mother-to-be may still chose an obstetrician as her lead professional, with the close support of her midwife, and will have immediate referral to one at any stage if this is needed.

"We are now giving our mothers the most freedom they have ever had in how they would like their care at one of the most important times in their lives," said Mrs Thomas.