Unexpected Out of hospital births in the UK: What is the problem?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Unexpected out of hospital (UOoH) births, unattended by a maternity professional in the UK: What is the problem?
IRAS ID
173909
Contact name
Claire Lyon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Portsmouth
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 16 days
Research summary
There is agreement in the professional literature that birth without the care of a midwife or doctor or in an unplanned environment has significant consequences for the health of both the mother and the baby compared to those that occur in appropriate surroundings (including at home)(1-11). Current evidence carried out in different areas of the UK tells us that in the UK the incidence of these unplanned out of hospital births is small but the numbers in some areas appear to be increasing (9, 12, 13). The prevalence of unplanned out of hospital births is unknown in Portsmouth and consequently the outcomes and their associated impact are unknown. The first aim of this study is to establish the prevalence of unplanned out of hospital births in Portsmouth through the analysis of service data.
Univariate analysis of service data will examine the characteristics of pregnant women who labour and subsequently give birth to their babies in unplanned environments. This will give a picture of the women and babies at greatest risk of unplanned out of hospital birth.
Paramedics are often the first healthcare professionals to attend these birth events (3, 12, 14) and while training in emergency delivery is included in the current curriculum for paramedic education there is often very little real life clinical experience to help develop skills, knowledge and confidence. The findings of this research will help to develop programmes of education and clinical training to optimise the care that the women and babies receive when child birth occurs in unplanned settings without the presence of a midwife or doctor.
REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0253
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion