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NHS trusts begin suspending home births due to coronavirus NHS trusts begin suspending home births due to coronavirus
(32 minutes later)
Giving birth in hospital would ease pressure on resources, say experts, as inquiries for services riseGiving birth in hospital would ease pressure on resources, say experts, as inquiries for services rise
NHS services in the UK have begun suspending home births in response to the coronavirus, with professional bodies advising pregnant women who have symptoms of Covid-19 to give birth in hospital. NHS services have begun suspending home births as professional bodies advise pregnant women who have symptoms of Covid-19 to give birth in hospital.
Experts have urged caution over home births, saying that while they may seem a logical move in the current climate of physical distancing they can require additional resources and are not suitable for women who may have coronavirus. Experts have urged caution over home births, saying that while they may seem a logical option in the current climate of physical distancing, they can require additional resources and are not suitable for women who may have coronavirus.
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation trust in London and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are among those that have said they are suspending home births, with the latter noting: “This is to allow us to concentrate our maternity staff in our hospitals to cover those who are absent from work because they are either self-isolating or symptomatic.” The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS foundation trust in London and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are among those that have said they are suspending home births. The latter said: “This is to allow us to concentrate our maternity staff in our hospitals to cover those who are absent from work because they are either self-isolating or symptomatic.”
Private Midwives, a UK-based nationwide private midwifery service that is registered with the CQC, has reported growing numbers of women seeking advice about a home birth. Private Midwives, a UK-based nationwide private midwifery service that is registered with the CQC, has reported growing numbers of women seeking advice about a home birth. “We have seen about a doubling in the number of enquiries in the last few weeks,” said Edward Sparks, the chief executive.
“We have seen about a doubling in the number of enquiries in the last few weeks,” said Edward Sparks, chief executive of the company, adding that women are citing two main reasons. He said women were citing two main reasons. “One is that they are thinking about a home birth when previously they may not have done because they just want to avoid going into hospital, bearing in mind the pressures they know the hospitals are under. They are looking to plan ahead and have a bit more certainty and know who is going to look after them.”
“One is that they are thinking about a home birth when previously they may not have done because they just want to avoid going into hospital bearing in mind the pressures they know the hospitals are under – they are looking to plan ahead and have a bit more certainty and know who is going to look after them,” he said. The other reason, he said, was that NHS services were being suspended and people who had already planned a home birth were looking for other ways of sticking to their plan.
The other reason, he said, is that NHS services are being suspended and those who had already planned a home birth are looking for other ways of sticking to their plan. “Quite a few areas around the country are struggling to provide the community services that they were previously,” said Sparks, adding that a team of midwives could look after more women if they were in hospital in one location.
“Quite a few areas around the country are struggling to provide the community services that they were previously,” said Sparks, adding that a team of midwives can look after more women if they are in hospital in one location. Last week the Royal College of Midwives noted that two midwives were required to be away from a unit for a home birth, and in the pandemic there may be times when this was not possible.
Last week the Royal College of Midwives noted that two midwives are required to be away from a unit for a home birth, adding that in the current pandemic there there may be times when this is not possible. “There are definitely certain parts of the country where there are women who were going to be having a home birth with the NHS, now that is not going to be possible for resource and staffing issues,” Sparks said.
“There are definitely certain parts of the country where there are women who were going to be having a home birth with the NHS, now that is not going to be possible for resource and staffing issues,” said Sparks. Birte Harlev-Lam, executive director for professional leadership at the Royal College of Midwives, said a home birth may still be an option for women who were showing no symptoms of coronavirus and were otherwise healthy, but it may depend on staffing levels.
Birte Harlev-Lam, executive director for professional leadership at the Royal College of Midwives, told the Guardian that for women who are showing no symptoms of coronavirus and are otherwise healthy, a home birth may still be an option – although she said that may depend on staffing levels.
“Maternity services are working around the clock to support women’s choices about where they give birth, including at home,” she said. “However, safety is always the paramount consideration for maternity services, so there may be situations where, due to staffing or other concerns, home births may not be possible.”“Maternity services are working around the clock to support women’s choices about where they give birth, including at home,” she said. “However, safety is always the paramount consideration for maternity services, so there may be situations where, due to staffing or other concerns, home births may not be possible.”
At present, experts say pregnant woman who are otherwise healthy do not have an increased risk of contracting Covid-19. Experts say pregnant woman who are otherwise healthy do not have an increased risk of contracting Covid-19.
However Harlev-Lam said home births could increase pressure on ambulance services if women need to be transferred to hospital, adding that women who have or think they may have Covid-19 should not have a home birth. Harlev-Lam said home births could increase pressure on ambulance services if women needed to be transferred to hospital.
“This is because of the extra monitoring and medical backup that might be needed to keep her and her baby safe,” she said. She said women who thought they may have Covid-19 should not have a home birth. “This is because of the extra monitoring and medical backup that might be needed to keep her and her baby safe,” she said.
A spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said women who are expecting to undergo an elective cesarean should also continue as planned rather than opting for a home birth. A spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said women who are expecting to undergo an elective cesarean should continue as planned rather than opting for a home birth.
“The overwhelming majority of elective caesarean births in the UK are offered for clinical reasons, such as a baby being in a breech position, and these will continue to take place in an obstetric unit in hospital,” the spokesperson said. “Any woman who is concerned, or wishes to change her birth plan, should contact her maternity team who will be able to advise her about the options available to her.”“The overwhelming majority of elective caesarean births in the UK are offered for clinical reasons, such as a baby being in a breech position, and these will continue to take place in an obstetric unit in hospital,” the spokesperson said. “Any woman who is concerned, or wishes to change her birth plan, should contact her maternity team who will be able to advise her about the options available to her.”
However not all NHS trusts have suspended home births. A spokesperson for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation trust said: “There hasn’t been a noticeable increase in demand for home births, and we are providing a normal service at present. We will continue to review what can be provided regularly over each 24 hour period and will respond accordingly, taking into account the needs across all of the maternity services, staff availability, and national guidance.” Not all NHS trusts have suspended home births. A spokesperson for Oxford University Hospitals NHS foundation trust said: “There hasn’t been a noticeable increase in demand for home births, and we are providing a normal service at present. We will continue to review what can be provided regularly over each 24 hour period and will respond accordingly, taking into account the needs across all of the maternity services, staff availability and national guidance.”