What Continuity of Care Really Means

Continuity of care is a phrase that gets used a lot in maternity care. You might have heard it from your GP, read it on a hospital website, or seen it mentioned on social media. But what does it actually mean in practice? And more importantly, what does it feel like?

I want to explain this clearly, because the reality of continuity of care is quite different from the way it’s sometimes described. And for many women, understanding this difference is what helps them figure out what kind of support they actually want for their pregnancy and postpartum.

The Standard Experience

In most public hospital maternity programs, you’ll see a different midwife or doctor at many of your appointments. Some hospitals have group practice models where you’re assigned to a small team, which is better, but even then, there’s no guarantee that the person you’ve built a relationship with will be available when you need them.

What this often means in practice is that you repeat your story at multiple appointments. You explain your history, your concerns, your preferences, sometimes to someone who is meeting you for the first time. The care you receive might be perfectly safe, but it can feel fragmented. Disconnected. Like no one person truly knows you.

For many women, especially those carrying complexity in their story, whether that’s an IVF journey, anxiety, a previous difficult birth, or simply a strong desire to feel heard, this experience can leave them feeling unsupported at a time when support matters most.

What Continuity of Care Actually Looks Like

Continuity of care, in its truest form, means having one midwife who walks with you across your entire journey. Not a rotating team. Not a different face each visit. One person who knows your name, your history, your fears, and your goals.

In my practice, continuity of care means I’m your midwife from early pregnancy through to your postpartum weeks at home. That’s not just a scheduling arrangement. It’s a relationship that builds over months. By the time we’re deep into your third trimester, I know the nuances of your story. I know what keeps you up at night. I know what kind of language helps you feel safe and what kind of information you need to make decisions that feel right.

That depth of knowing changes everything. It changes how education lands, because I can tailor it to what’s actually relevant for you rather than running through a generic checklist. It changes how decisions are made, because you have a midwife who can present options in the context of your specific values and circumstances. And it changes how the postpartum period feels, because you’re not being visited by a stranger. You’re being supported by someone who was there from the beginning.

What Continuity of Care Includes

When I talk about continuity of care, I’m talking about a comprehensive model that covers pregnancy care, birth preparation, and postpartum support. Here’s what that looks like at Beneath the Palms Midwifery.

During pregnancy, you have regular appointments that are longer than what you’d typically get in a hospital setting. We review your blood work and scans together, talk through any questions or concerns, and I provide education that’s tailored to your stage and your situation. You also have access to phone support between appointments, so you’re not left waiting until your next visit to get a question answered.

In your third trimester, we spend dedicated time on birth preparation. This isn’t a group class. It’s one-on-one education that covers labour, active birthing, creating birth preferences that reflect your values, and preparing your partner or support person so they feel confident and clear about their role.

After baby arrives, I come to your home. Your first postpartum visit is a longer session that includes birth debriefing, feeding support, newborn assessment, and an honest check-in on how you’re actually going. Ongoing visits focus on whatever is most pressing, whether that’s feeding, settling, sleep, or simply having someone listen.

Why This Model Matters

The evidence around continuity of midwifery care is strong. Research consistently shows that women who receive continuity of care report higher satisfaction, feel more in control of their experience, and have better emotional outcomes. But beyond the research, there’s something simpler at work.

When you don’t have to repeat your story, when you don’t have to explain yourself again, when your midwife already knows the things that matter to you, the entire experience feels different. You feel held. You feel seen. And from that place of safety, everything else, the education, the decision-making, the transition into parenthood, becomes more grounded.

That’s what continuity of care really means. It’s not a marketing term. It’s a relationship.

Is It Right for You?

Continuity of care isn’t the right fit for everyone, and that’s okay. But if you’re someone who values having one person who genuinely knows you, who has the time to listen and explain things clearly, and who will be there not just during pregnancy but in the early weeks with your baby at home, this model might be worth exploring.

It’s especially worth considering if you’re navigating an IVF pregnancy, carrying fear or unresolved feelings from a previous birth, or simply want more from your care than what the standard system offers.

Many of my clients also find that the cost is more manageable than they expected, thanks to Medicare rebates that apply to most appointments.

→ Internal link: Link ‘Medicare rebates’ to /services/continuity-of-care#pricing

If You’re Considering Continuity of Care

The best way to find out if this model suits you is a conversation. No commitment, no pressure. Just a chance to talk through where you’re at, ask your questions, and see if it feels like the right fit.

If you’d like to talk, you can book a conversation here. I’d love to hear from you.