title: Facilitating home birth.
abstract: The birth of a baby is a family experience. However, in the United Kingdom birth often occurs outside the family environment, in hospital. Both home and hospital births have risks and benefits, but research shows that, for most women, it is as safe to give birth at home as it is in hospital. Women report home-birth to be satisfying with lowered risks of intervention and less likelihood of being separated from their family. It is also more cost effective for the National Health Service. Yet, whilst midwives are working hard to promote home birth as an option, it remains controversial. The aim of this paper is to raise awareness of the safety of home birth and the needs of women and midwives when a home birth is chosen. It provides an overview of care required and the role of the midwife in the ensuring care is woman-centred and personalised.
authors: Valerie
authors: V
authors: Finigan
authors: Diane
authors: D
authors: Chadderton
mesh_terms: D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006700:Home Childbirth / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology; D061214:Patient Safety; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D064186:Prenatal Education / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom