Home Birth Safe But Support Services Needed, UK

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 03 Apr 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Responding to research on home births published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dame Karlene Davis, General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "The research is welcome, but it is far from conclusive. Women planning a home birth should not be worried, because with the proper support and resources in place a home birth is safe.

"The nature of transfer means that complications are anticipated or evident. This principle applies irrespective of place of birth, whether this is at home, in a birth centre or in hospital. Much more research needs to be done in the area of outcomes following transfer.

"What is needed to make home birth even safer are better staffing and resources, such as quick access to ambulance transfers for the very small number of women who develop complications.

"We encourage women to discuss all the birth options with their midwife to make the decision that best suits them. Wherever women choose to give birth, they should be offered a safe and satisfying birth experience, and midwives are working hard to improve the high level of care they already give."

Notes

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) aims to promote and advance the profession of the midwife. The RCM represents over 95% of the UK's midwives and is one of the world's oldest and one of the largest midwifery organisations, and celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2006. It is also a trade union.

Royal College of Midwives