PTEN
The Family Door

What we bring to every visit with your midwife

Throughout your pregnancy, every visit with our midwife lasts a full hour — time to listen, explain, and answer everything you need. And because questions don't wait for the next scheduled visit, your membership isn't limited to the recommended appointments: your specialist nurse is also available for whatever comes up in between.

How it works

A visit done properly, and support for everything in between

We know a rushed routine appointment rarely leaves room for every question a pregnancy brings. That's why every visit with your midwife lasts a full hour — time to talk things through calmly, get the explanations you need, and leave with answers, not just more questions.

And because pregnancy doesn't follow a fixed schedule of doubts, your membership doesn't limit you to the recommended visits. Your specialist nurse is also available in between — for anything you need to clarify from one visit to the next.

Health education topics

The topics we work through during pregnancy

Every pregnancy is unique, but there's a common thread of topics we work through with you, visit by visit, adapted to the stage you're in and to your needs.

Understanding pregnancy and your body

We want you to understand what's happening in your body and your baby's, trimester by trimester — the physical and emotional changes, common discomforts and how to manage them, the role of the placenta, fetal growth, your baby's movements and communication in the womb, and the changes that appear as birth approaches, including contractions.

Monitoring your pregnancy

We help you understand how pregnancy monitoring works: which visits and professionals are involved, what the Pregnancy Health Record is for, which blood tests and ultrasounds are recommended and when, the screenings available, recommended supplementation, vaccination, the importance of blood type/Rh and anti-D immunoglobulin, and tests like the OGTT and Group B Streptococcus screening.

Knowing when to seek help

One of the most important parts of our care: learning to recognise warning signs at each stage of pregnancy. We talk about bleeding and other symptoms to watch for, signs of preterm labour, changes in fetal movement, signs that labour is starting, and — above all — when to contact a professional and when to go to the maternity unit.

Mental health and emotional adjustment

Pregnancy is felt, too. We talk about expectations and feelings about pregnancy, the ambivalence that often comes up, anxiety, sources of stress, past experiences, and risk and protective factors. We screen for anxiety and depression, help you prepare emotionally for birth, and talk about postpartum mental health and the baby blues.

Nutrition and lifestyle

We cover safe, healthy eating during pregnancy, your nutritional needs, expected weight gain, physical activity, sleep and rest, oral health, hygiene, clothing, sexual activity, substances to avoid, infection prevention, and how to balance work and social life with this new phase.

Self-care and wellbeing

We help you get to know and read your own body's signals, and find strategies for common discomforts like venous insufficiency and swelling. We talk about rest, movement, and building self-care routines. Towards the end of pregnancy, we focus on strategies that support calm and physical and emotional readiness for birth.

Rights and decision-making

It's also our role to inform you about your rights during pregnancy and parenthood — from work-related rights to prenatal allowances and access to care. We help you understand the options available to you, so you arrive ready to take an active part in decisions about your pregnancy, labour and birth.

Next step

Want this kind of support throughout your pregnancy?

The Family Door membership

Discover The Family Door membership and what's included.

See the membership