Welcome to Baby steps GP, created, developed and led by myself Dr Meg Woodrow, a GP with a diploma and special interest in women’s’ health.
Dr Meg Woodrow MBChB BSc(Hons) Medicine & Surgery, DRCOG, BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy
Since qualifying as a doctor in 2015, I have spent almost a year working in obstetrics and gynaecology while completing my junior doctor and GP training. I achieved my diploma in womens’ health from the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2019, before qualifying as a primary care GP in 2020, which is my current work role. Prior to my medical training, I gained a BSC Hons in sports therapy and became a senior lecturer in anatomy and upper limb injury at Chichester university, giving me a passion for teaching.
Despite all my medical training, recently having a baby was totally mind blowing. Having undertaken a very popular chain of antenatal classes with my husband, we thought we would be well prepared, especially with our background knowledge. Although the class was a very lovely, albeit pretty expensive, way of making excellent friends, I found the education side incredibly disappointing. There were many important aspects of the pregnancy, labour and most crucially parenting that were totally missed and other areas that I found misinformative and conflicting. When we actually became parents we faced so many unexpected challenges, not explained by the course, showing great gaps in the teaching and learning. The delivery of the class was also lacking the passion and motivation that I feel such a wonderful experience of pregnancy and becoming parents deserves, and this was felt by the majority of those in our group.
So while some may enjoy spending 30 mins having a massage from their partner and another 30 mins changing a pesto filled nappy, I would like to strive to spend both your and my time teaching what I feel are the most important lessons and stories that aren’t so easy to learn yourself elsewhere. With my medical background, teaching experience and very recent experience of becoming a mum to a troublesome but beautiful boy, I have designed a programme of useful, important and enjoyable learning that I am very proud of. I strive to deliver this in an interactive, personal and tailored way, with the offer of ongoing support as wanted plus the benefit of still making some great antenatal friends within the small group classes.
It is my goal and passion that you leave feeling supported, prepared and more confident.