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13/05/2014
Nice Suggests More Midwife-Led Home Births
Women who are healthy and experiencing a 'straight forward' (low risk) pregnancy should be encouraged to give birth in a midwife-led unit rather than a traditional labour ward, according to draft proposals from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
It also provisionally says that a home birth may be just as safe as hospital for low risk pregnant women who have already had at least 1 child, and that midwives should discuss all options with the women in their care. The proposed changes to the institute's guidance could affect hundreds of thousands of births.
NICE currently recommends that women should be given the choice of where they want to give birth, but urges caution if a home birth or delivery in a midwife-led unit is planned. The Institute is now revising its recommendations in light of new evidence. The draft version of these updated guidelines has been published for consultation.
Almost three-quarters of a million (729,000) babies were born in England and Wales during 2012 - a rise of about 20% from 2002.
Christine Carson, clinical guideline programme director for NICE, said: "Since we published our original guidance, more evidence has come to light about the benefits and risks associated with giving birth at home, in an independent or hospital-based midwife-led unit and on a traditional labour ward.
"We now know that these units are as safe as traditional labour wards for all 'low risk' pregnant women and are more likely to result in a better birth experience with less medical intervention. The evidence also highlights that home births are just as safe as other settings for low risk pregnant women who already have at least 1 child, but not for women expecting their first baby. However, every woman should ultimately have the freedom to choose where she wants to give birth and be supported in her choice."
(CVS/CD)
It also provisionally says that a home birth may be just as safe as hospital for low risk pregnant women who have already had at least 1 child, and that midwives should discuss all options with the women in their care. The proposed changes to the institute's guidance could affect hundreds of thousands of births.
NICE currently recommends that women should be given the choice of where they want to give birth, but urges caution if a home birth or delivery in a midwife-led unit is planned. The Institute is now revising its recommendations in light of new evidence. The draft version of these updated guidelines has been published for consultation.
Almost three-quarters of a million (729,000) babies were born in England and Wales during 2012 - a rise of about 20% from 2002.
Christine Carson, clinical guideline programme director for NICE, said: "Since we published our original guidance, more evidence has come to light about the benefits and risks associated with giving birth at home, in an independent or hospital-based midwife-led unit and on a traditional labour ward.
"We now know that these units are as safe as traditional labour wards for all 'low risk' pregnant women and are more likely to result in a better birth experience with less medical intervention. The evidence also highlights that home births are just as safe as other settings for low risk pregnant women who already have at least 1 child, but not for women expecting their first baby. However, every woman should ultimately have the freedom to choose where she wants to give birth and be supported in her choice."
(CVS/CD)
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More women are being urged to give birth at home or at midwife-led units rather than traditional labour wards. In updated guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) evidence shows that midwife-led care is safer than hospital care for women having a straightforward, low risk, pregnancy.
Home Births Best For Mothers - NICE
More women are being urged to give birth at home or at midwife-led units rather than traditional labour wards. In updated guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) evidence shows that midwife-led care is safer than hospital care for women having a straightforward, low risk, pregnancy.
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Figures have shown that the number of births to older mothers has trebled in the past 20 years. In 2009, figures for England and Wales show that 26,976 babies were born to women aged 40 and over, compared to 9,336 in 1989 and 14,252 in 1999. Among those aged 35 to 39 there were 114,288 births in 2009, a rise of 41% on the 81,281 in 1999.
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