title: Feasibility of pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart defects in homebirths.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulse oximetry has been shown to be a valuable additional screening test for detecting critical congenital heart defects in newborns. The feasibility of homebirth screening by the attending midwife has not been reported previously.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Routine pulse oximetry screening of homebirths at 2 h of age was introduced in a UK tertiary maternity service in January 2014. The process and outcomes were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of the clinical record of all babies undergoing pulse oximetry screening performed following homebirths over a 16-month period was undertaken. The acceptability of screening among the home care team (n=11) was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety babies underwent routine pulse oximetry screening within 2 h following homebirth; two had a positive result and were admitted to the neonatal unit with significant respiratory illness. Screening was acceptable and reassuring to midwives enabling prompt postnatal decision making and confirming normal transition without significantly increasing workload.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early pulse oximetry screening for homebirths is both feasible and acceptable.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham Women's Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cawsey
authors.affiliation: Birmingham Women's Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.affiliation: Birmingham Women's Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cross-Sudworth
authors.affiliation: Birmingham Women's Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ewer
mesh_terms: D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006700:Home Childbirth / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Cardiology; Neonatology