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Abstract
Labour and Delivery Posters
What do perinatal healthcare professionals think about home birth?
  1. AB McNutt1,2,
  2. TS Thornton1,2,
  3. A Curley3,
  4. P Clarke1
  1. 1Neonatal unit, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, United Kingdom
  2. 2Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
  3. 3Neonatal Unit, Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Abstract

Background and Aim A recent Government policy drive is to increase home delivery rates. Data are lacking about whether this strategy is embraced by perinatal healthcare professionals. Our aim was to examine opinions regarding home deliveries held by midwives, GPs, consultant obstetricians/gynaecologists (O+G), and consultant neonatologists/paediatricians (N+P).

Methods Cross sectional postal survey of UK professionals in the Eastern region. Likert scales ranging from 0-10 assessed professionals' general experiences of and enthusiasm for home birthing and support for the Government's plan.

Results 432/831 (52%) professionals responded: GPs 148/321 (46%); midwives 224/418 (54%); O+G 32/52 (62%); N+P 28/41 (68%). Midwives generally reported positive experiences of home delivery and were much more enthusiastic about home deliveries than any other professionals (Table 1).

View this table:
ABSTRACT PL.19 Table 1

Experiences, enthusiasm, and support of various professionals for home birth

Conclusions Negative experiences and opinions of perinatal healthcare professionals regarding home delivery may adversely affect its uptake by women and will need to be addressed if the Government's plan to increase home delivery rates is to succeed.

https://doi.org/10.1136/fetalneonatal-2012-301809.253

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