In these visits we record information on the use of "birth plan", continuity of care and the initiatives introduced to encourage participation and decision-making among women regarding the care they wish to receive during childbirth.
Would establishing a relationship, regardless of who it is with (skills, personal characteristics, salary band, professional or lay status), immediately after birth with continuity of care once home be effective?
Our data generate several further research questions: Would establishing a relationship, regardless of who it is with (skills, personal characteristics, salary band, professional or lay status), immediately after birth with continuity of care once home be effective?
'Only women choosing home birth have true continuity of care' (submission 456).
While antenatal care can be planned around pre-determined stages of pregnancy the unpredictable nature of birth makes complete continuity through all stages of maternity care problematic.
Having a relationship where the woman is treated with respect, and involved in decision-making has been shown to override the influences of age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, preparation for childbirth, the birthing environment including continuity of care, and medical interventions on childbirth satisfaction.
Clinical privileging, or access rights, are required if midwives are to be employed in primary care settings and offer continuity during birth (at the tertiary centre) and beyond.
Core values underpinning these birthing options; a strong belief in women's ability to birth with minimal intervention, continuity of care and women's right to informed choice are shared by the proposed maternity care reforms.
The primary hypothesis is that women with a previous CS, who are eligible for a vaginal birth and receive midwifery continuity of care, will be 50% more likely to choose to attempt a vaginal birth in their current pregnancy than similar women receiving standard care.
