The Way Forward The Way Forward – Voicing the – Voicing the VisionVision

Facilitated by Facilitated by Professor Paul LewisProfessor Paul Lewis

o 1. Confident, well trained and supported midwives on a one to one basis, who want to be there.o 2. Birth choice information that needs to take the form of informal, easily accessed, including social drop-in available to all involved.o 3. Support women to make decisions on place of birth as late as possible, by home visits (in labour) positive language and well equipped midwives.

What information and What information and support do women need to support do women need to have the confidence to give have the confidence to give birth at home?birth at home?

Group A – Gill ThornGroup A – Gill Thorn

Can midwives trust their Can midwives trust their instincts and skills when instincts and skills when there is no ‘emergency there is no ‘emergency button’?button’?

Group B – Heather BowerGroup B – Heather Bower

o 1. INSTINCT: women need confidence to act instinctively – how do we achieve this?o 2. SKILLS: “less is more” – do mothers and midwives need to understand that “doing nothing” is a skill?o 3. SAFETY: do we need continuity of care and mutual trust between mother and midwife to negotiate safety?

Are current medical Are current medical guidelines on who is guidelines on who is suitable for a home birth suitable for a home birth appropriate?appropriate?

Group C - Caroline MillerGroup C - Caroline Miller

o 1. No – Too generalisedo 2. Individual care plan/Research based - respecting women’s choiceo 3. Continuity of carer

How does HB fit into the How does HB fit into the lives of community lives of community midwives with other midwives with other commitments?commitments?

Group D – Mavis KirkhamGroup D – Mavis Kirkham

o1. Effective deployment of resources for non-midwifery work.o 2. Effective networking, negotiation and communication and awareness of our role modelling here.o 3.Fostering a nurturing environment for all - Looking after Each other - A Labour of love reciprocated

Normal births in hospital and Normal births in hospital and normal birth at home – are normal birth at home – are they one and the same?they one and the same?

Group E – Ethel BurnsGroup E – Ethel Burns

o1. Environment – Physical Care givero 2. Shift in beliefs – Accepting the reality of risk and taking responsibility Mother and staffo 3. Promoting ripple effect – Midwife/medical student placements Challenging practices

How do we encourage How do we encourage home birth as the norm?home birth as the norm?

Group F – Beverley BeechGroup F – Beverley Beecho1. Set targets for Home birth - Commissionerso2. Training – Students, midwives, doctors to complete 5 homebirths o3. Parents – Tell Everyone HB support Groups

How can we all work How can we all work together to support home together to support home birth?birth?

Group G – Gillian FletcherGroup G – Gillian Fletcher

o1. Midwives as first contact for women, although we need midwives to promote choiceo2. Antenatal education to embrace choice – i.e. having someone from Homebirth support groupo3. Using MSLC as a vehicle for working together to promote change within your locality.

Are birth centres a Are birth centres a distraction for women distraction for women who are unsure about who are unsure about home birth?home birth?

Group H – Sue LearnerGroup H – Sue Learner

o1. No because - They give more women the opportunity for midwife-led labour and birth. Less births in obstetric unit.o2. Midwives can gain/regain traditional skillso3. Empower women to have confidence in their ability to labour and give birth.

Who supports midwives to Who supports midwives to provide a safe and provide a safe and sustainable home birth sustainable home birth services?services?

Group I – Carole GarrickGroup I – Carole Garrick

o1. Supervision of Midwiveso2. Strong political groups such as IMA, NCT, AIMS, MSLC’s and other user groups, etco3.Peer Groups

Pain, mess and safety – Pain, mess and safety – how can we address how can we address prejudice against home prejudice against home birth?birth?

Group K – Sarah BartonGroup K – Sarah Barton

o1. Education/Media/ Parent-craft

o2. Leaflets, Info, Statistics aimed for DADS

o3. Integration of Midwives

Any Questions Any Questions or or

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