Trust Board Febuary 2010 - Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals

SWBTB (2/10) 035 (a)
Graph 2 Birth Choices
No Answer
Home Birth
Sandwell 25
HOB 12
Out of Area
Sandwell
Delivery Suite
Sandwell 130
HOB 125
HOB
Co-located MLU
HOB 106
Sandwell 145
Community
MLU
HOB 14
Sandwell 89
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
4.1 Midwife-Led Birth Centre
Overall, women liked the sound of a midwife-led birth centre or unit (MLU), they welcomed the
idea of having a more relaxed atmosphere and a more homely environment. Typical comments
include: “A midwife-led birth centre is a good idea – it would be excellent. There is more
knowledge out there now about more natural births. I would definitely go for that.”
“(I) like the idea of a midwife-led birth centre … More relaxed …Good idea – but it wouldn’t
apply to me because I need a consultant”.
Women from some Black and Minority Ethnic groups, such as Pakistani and Somali, felt that a
midwife-led unit offered the opportunity for a homely women-centred environment. As one
woman commented “(I) would rather have a midwife – it’s their domain”. Some women
thought an MLU would offer more continuity of care: “It is important to have a midwife who
knows you – sometimes during pregnancy you can see a lot of midwives”.
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