It’s been a busy year for the Integra Women’s Health doctors and staff, the only pregnancy team in the Cayman Islands that combines Obstetrics, Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Neonatology, along with dedicated Midwifery, all under one roof, as part of a Complete Care approach. However, this last week saw a major and exciting milestone – the delivery of the 50th baby to the Complete Care team.
Baby Ava, born to delighted parents Megan and Michael, is a picture of health and happiness.
Dr Lisa Joels, OB/GYN at Integra Healthcare Ltd and obstetrician to little Ava, marked the occasion by pointing out what an amazing journey it has been; “It’s a little over a year when we formed our combined obstetric-neonatal team out of the belief that seamless care between disciplines was important to the best pregnancy journey and outcomes. What’s amazing is that given that it does generally take 9 months to produce even a single baby, reaching our 50th in this time is a massive endorsement of how patients or parents are viewing the Integra Complete Care approach.”
Asked how she came to choose this team, Mum Megan said “Well, the Integra OBGYNs were really well liked by mums in the groups I am part of and when I met Dr Lisa, I felt really comfortable and I knew she was right for me”.
Dr Jasmina Marinova, Neonatal Paediatrician at delivery said “I am so pleased for Megan and Michael. Congratulations on gorgeous baby Ava. Her delivery was a calm, smooth and lovely one, which comes from a team working so well together, but our Complete Care approach becomes even more important if there are problems, when communication and understanding each other is often critical and urgent”.
The Integra Complete Care Team is unique in the Cayman Islands. Having all the disciplines necessary in the event of difficult or high-risk pregnancies – tertiary obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, neonatology and midwifery – is something typically confined to centres of excellence in major cities. However, Dr Sara Watkin, Lead Neonatologist says; “I think it is even more important when you’re having your baby on an Island over 450 miles from a tertiary centre. Pregnancies can be high risk, complications can occur. The right complete team not only works together to minimise the risks, but it can react swiftly and smoothly when things don’t go according to plan. For instance, we’re privileged at Integra to have the only Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist OBGYN, Dr Madhavi Manoharan, allowing us to really plan higher risk pregnancies or assess unexpected findings swiftly.”
However, now is a time for celebration. Baby Ava is the perfect beautiful baby with which to mark the 50th milestone, a treasure for Megan and Michael and a pleasure for the Complete Care Team, as she behaved all the way through. And Mum Megan says she continues to behave perfectly, something that even the Integra Complete Care Team can’t guarantee, but in which they, and everyone at Integra, do wish Megan, Michael and Baby Ava all best wishes.
