SingHealth Expands Midwifery-Led Care Across the Maternal and Child Health Journey

Singapore, 29 July 2026 — As healthcare continues to shift towards preventive care and early intervention with a focus on continuity of care and stronger community-based support, SingHealth is expanding midwifery-led care and the role of nurses in providing families access to timely assistance. These efforts span the entire maternal and child health journey, from pregnancy and childbirth to postnatal support and early childhood development.

Earlier Midwifery Support During Pregnancy

As trusted partners throughout the maternity journey, midwives are uniquely positioned to provide guidance, reassurance and timely intervention from the early stages of pregnancy.

From 3 August 2026, KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) will expand its midwife-led antenatal care programme, allowing women with low-risk pregnancies to begin receiving care from 16 weeks of pregnancy, earlier than the current 24 weeks. The move builds on KKH's longstanding expertise in supporting low-risk expectant mothers through its midwife-led clinic since 2010.

Early support is particularly important given the challenges many women experience during pregnancy. Local data indicates that at least one in 10 women in Singapore experience depression or anxiety during the perinatal period. Early bonding with expectant mothers enables the care team to provide them with additional opportunities to identify concerns and promote physical and emotional wellbeing. This approach aligns with internationally recognised maternal and child care models that emphasise closer and more personalised support throughout pregnancy and childbirth.

Helping Families Thrive After Childbirth

The role of midwives extends beyond childbirth as they continue to provide support during the critical weeks after delivery as mothers and families adjust to parenthood.

Enriching Mothers’ Postpartum Outcomes With Education, Research and Resources (EMPOWER²) is a pilot programme that commenced in May 2025 for first-time mothers residing in Kallang, Sengkang and Punggol. It provides home visits by KKH nurse-midwives in the first six weeks after birth to support breastfeeding, maternal recovery and parenting confidence.

Preliminary findings from EMPOWER² showed that mothers who received home visits post-delivery reported significantly higher satisfaction scores (4.63 out of 5) with their postnatal care compared to those who did not participate in the programme (3.43 out of 5).

The programme has also shown positive trends in breastfeeding outcomes. At six to eight weeks after childbirth, 90 per cent of mothers who received home visits were still partially or fully breastfeeding, compared with 83 per cent among those who did not receive home visits.

Participants have shared that the home visits by KKH nurse-midwives helped ease anxiety, build confidence and provide reassurance during what can be a challenging transition into parenthood. Participants highlighted the value of having experienced nurses answer questions, provide hands-on guidance and offer continued support after they returned home with their newborns.

Supporting Young Families in the Community

As part of SingHealth's efforts to support residents across the life course, community nurses provide care and support through a network of over 150 Community Health Posts (CHPs) and home-based services. While they are most associated with supporting seniors and residents with chronic conditions, community nurses also play an important role in maternal and child health.

Through community health touchpoints such as Family Nexus at Our Tampines Hub (FamNex@OTH), SingHealth community nurses also provide a range of programmes from couples planning for parenthood to those who are preparing to be parents and families with children aged up to six years old.

Community nurses provide support from preconception through pregnancy and the postnatal period, helping mothers navigate breastfeeding, recovery after childbirth and emotional well-being. They also work alongside parents to monitor their child's growth and development, encourage healthy habits from an early age, and provide trusted advice on common health concerns. Where needed, community nurses can conduct home visits or connect families with appropriate healthcare and social care services for more coordinated support.

Through community nursing teams based at Changi General Hospital (CGH) and Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) families have access to preventive care and early intervention services closer to home. SingHealth plans to also progressively expand this community nursing model through Singapore General Hospital, extending access to integrated, family-centred care across the southeastern, eastern and northeastern regions of Singapore.

Together, community nurses and midwives strengthen the continuity of care in maternal and child health between the hospital and community settings to ensure that families receive the care and support they need closer to where they live.

Nurturing the Next Generation of Midwives

With the focus on extending more comprehensive maternal and child support in hospitals and the community, SingHealth is strengthening the midwifery workforce through its longstanding collaboration with Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), which offers the Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Midwifery).

Designed to provide registered nurses with the academic and clinical preparation required for midwifery practice, the programme combines classroom learning with hands-on clinical training. As part of NYP's curriculum review, the programme is being enhanced to better equip future nurse-midwives with the competencies needed to support evolving models of care, including continuity-of-care and community-based maternity services. Reflecting this expanded scope, the programme is expected to be renamed the Advanced Diploma in Midwifery in the next course review.

SingHealth is also strengthening capabilities among practising nurses through KKH's Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Care for Women and Children. Accredited by the SingHealth College of Clinical Nursing, the intensive eight-month programme equips nurses with advanced competencies to care for women and children across acute, primary and community care settings. To foster a holistic learning experience, participants commit two days a week to structured learning and clinical attachments while continuing in their professional roles.

Since its launch in 2022, 28 nurses have completed the programme and another 10 are currently undergoing training. The majority of participants are SingHealth nurses, with some from other public healthcare clusters in Singapore, extending the programme's impact across Singapore.

Adj Prof Tracy Carol Ayre, Group Chief Nurse, SingHealth, said: "Every mother deserves the confidence of knowing that she is supported throughout her pregnancy journey. By strengthening midwifery and community-based nursing care, we are making maternal and child care more personalised, connected and accessible. Nurse-midwives play a pivotal role in supporting women, especially first-time mothers, through one of life’s most significant journeys. They spend the most time with expectant women through close interactions to build trust by providing information and advice that they need, as well as offer reassurance that makes a meaningful difference to a family’s experience. At the same time, we are investing in the next generation of nurses and midwives to deliver exceptional care with skill, compassion and confidence so that we continue to foster healthier pregnancies, safer births and stronger families as we partner women and families to build healthier communities for generations to come."

*Please refer to Annex A for profiles of nurse-midwives and community nurses involved in maternal and child health.

Celebrating the Dedication of Nurses, the Pride of SingHealth

SingHealth celebrated Nurses’ Day for its close to 14,500 nurses across the cluster today to honour and thank them for the extraordinary difference they make in touching the hearts and lives of countless patients, their families and the community. This year, 359 nurses were recognised for their outstanding contributions in nursing practice, innovation, research, education and professional development through a range of awards and scholarships. SingHealth is focused on ensuring continuous development of healthcare professionals to empower them to perform at the top of their licence. The event was graced by Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, who served food to nurses who came for the celebrations and delivered appreciation remarks during the ceremony.

_{[1] "Consensus statement on Singapore perinatal mental health guidelines on depression and anxiety", Review Article, Vol. 52 No. 9, 467–475 https://doi.org/10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2023148, 27 September 2023}

_{[2] Finding period for July 25 to Jan 26}

Annex A

Samantha Chia
Senior Nurse Manager. Obstetrics Wards, KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH)

Having served at KKH since 2008, Samantha has dedicated much of her career to advancing midwifery-led models of care and improving the experiences of women and families throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal journey.

A strong advocate of patient-centred maternity care, Samantha is a member of KKH's Midwife-led Clinic team and has played an active role in initiatives that support women beyond the traditional hospital setting. She is involved in EMPOWER2, KKH's community midwifery pilot programme, which provides continuity of care and enhanced support for mothers during the postnatal period. Through this work, she has witnessed first-hand the value of nurse-midwives in strengthening maternal and infant health outcomes, supporting maternal mental well-being and delivering more integrated care for families.

Samantha's contributions extend beyond clinical practice. Passionate about education and professional development, she serves as a part-time tutor with the NUS Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, where she teaches maternal health to undergraduate nursing students. She is also actively involved in antenatal education and mentoring younger nurse-midwives to nurture the next generation of healthcare professionals.

In 2024, she received the Human Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) Fellowship Award, where she trained in the United Kingdom about new models of maternal and child healthcare delivery in the community. She also gained exposure to community midwifery and specialist bereavement services; experiences that further strengthened her commitment to enhancing support for families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss.

Samantha is a 2026 recipient of the Wee Foundation Nursing scholarship to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Nursing Leadership with Duke University. She hopes to strengthen her capabilities in healthcare transformation, leadership and evidence-based practice, with a focus on advancing midwifery, expanding community-based models of care and developing structured bereavement support services for families. Her vision is to contribute to the continued evolution of nursing and midwifery in Singapore while ensuring women and families receive compassionate, holistic and high-quality care throughout their healthcare journey.

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Shafiqa Binte Muhamad Saleh

Senior Staff Nurse, Delivery Suite, KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH)

With more than 17 years of service at KKH, Shafiqa Binte Muhamad Saleh is a highly experienced nurse-midwife who has dedicated her career to providing safe, compassionate and patient-centred maternity care for women and their families.

Recognised for her calm demeanour and clinical excellence, Shafiqa plays a key role in caring for women throughout labour and childbirth, including those with complex obstetric needs. She is accredited in specialised areas such as cardiotocography (CTG) interpretation and advanced obstetric procedures and has undergone additional training in emergency preparedness and high-risk obstetric care. Her expertise enables her to confidently manage complex clinical situations while maintaining the highest standards of patient safety and quality care.

Beyond her clinical duties, Shafiqa is a passionate educator and mentor who is committed to developing future generations of nurse-midwives. Over the years, she has guided numerous newly graduated nurses as a preceptor, helping them build confidence and competence in clinical practice. She also serves as a nurse champion for several key initiatives, including electronic charting, emergency equipment training and patient safety projects, supporting staff education and the successful implementation of new practices within the Delivery Suite.

Shafiqa actively contributes to advancing nursing practice through education, curriculum development and professional governance. She is a member of the Nursing Professional Practice Council and has contributed to reviews of both the Graduate Certificate curriculum and the Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Midwifery) curriculum.

She is also certified with the Singapore Emergency Medical Team (SGEMT).

Shafiqa is the recipient of the 2026 Wee Foundation Nurses' Day Award for Nursing Practice Excellence (Registered Nurse), which recognises her outstanding clinical competence, leadership, commitment to education and unwavering dedication to women, babies and families. Through her work, she continues to exemplify the highest standards of nursing and midwifery practice while helping to shape the future of maternity care in Singapore.

 
Chau Man Kam
SingHealth Community Nurse, based at Changi General Hospital

Man Kam is a SingHealth community nurse at Family Nexus, a community-based initiative that supports families across the continuum of care from preconception to parenthood and early childhood (ages 0–6 years). Family Nexus is located at Our Tampines Hub, and Man Kam played an active role in its planning and development.

Prior to this, Man Kam served at SingHealth Polyclinics, where she cared for children through childhood immunisation programmes and developmental assessments in the primary care setting. These experiences provided her with a strong foundation in child health, preventive care, and the early identification of developmental concerns. In 2025, she completed the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Care for Women and Children, further strengthening her expertise in maternal and child health.

Since 2022, Man Kam and her team of three community nurses at Family Nexus have provided close to 500 individual consultations covering preconception health, pregnancy, postnatal care, and child health. Through these consultations, they support individuals and families in making informed decisions about their health and well-being during key life stages.

Beyond one-to-one consultations, the team brings health promotion into the community through outreach programmes, health screenings, and educational initiatives. They also provide guidance on breastfeeding and lactation support.

A key area of their work is early childhood oral health. Together with her team, Man Kam conducts oral health screenings for more than 200 children aged six years and below annually, enabling the early identification of potential dental issues and risk factors for tooth decay. They also provide guidance on effective toothbrushing techniques, appropriate fluoride use, healthy oral hygiene habits, and the importance of timely dental visits.

Recognising that child health extends beyond clinical consultations, Man Kam and her team actively engage families within community settings. They conduct health talks, storytelling sessions, and outreach programmes at preschools and the National Library at Our Tampines Hub, reaching children, parents, caregivers, and educators. Through these engagements, they raise awareness about child development, nutrition, oral health, and preventive healthcare.

What Man Kam finds most meaningful about her role is the opportunity to build lasting relationships with families throughout their parenting journey. Some mothers whom she first met while supporting their children’s developmental and health needs have subsequently returned to seek her guidance during later pregnancies and postnatal periods, reflecting the trust and continuity of care she has built within the community.
 
Chow Mei Wan (Yvonne)
SingHealth community nurse, based at Sengkang General Hospital

Yvonne is a SingHealth community nurse who has spent the past five years supporting population health initiatives in the Punggol and Sengkang community. Before joining community nursing, she was a Cardiology Specialty Nurse, providing care for patients with complex cardiac conditions. Demonstrating a commitment to advancing her practice, Yvonne was also part of the pioneering 2022 cohort of the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Care for Women and Children.

Yvonne led a team of two Community Nurses in Project HOlistic Management and Empowerment (HOME), a Ministry of Health-funded pilot programme that supported lower-income and vulnerable families through home visits and close collaboration with healthcare, preschool and social service partners. Over the programme's two-and-a-half-year run, the team reached 142 families, 226 children and 220 adult caregivers, helping to identify health, developmental and social issues early and connect families with the support they needed. She and her team worked closely with families facing challenges such as poor school attendance, delayed developmental follow-ups, missed vaccinations and difficulties navigating healthcare and social support services.

Through home visits and family-centred care, they proactively identified emerging health and social needs, delivered timely interventions, facilitated access to community resources, and empowered parents to nurture their children's health and developmental outcomes. Deeply committed to health equity, she is passionate about ensuring that vulnerable children and families receive timely, coordinated support and every opportunity to thrive.