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OBJECTIVE: To review quality of care in births planned in midwifery-led settings, resulting in an intrapartum-related perinatal death. DESIGN: Confidential enquiry SETTING: England, Scotland and Wales SAMPLE: Intrapartum stillbirths and intrapartum-related neonatal deaths in births planned in alongside midwifery units, freestanding midwifery units or at home, sampled from national perinatal surveillance data for 2015-16 (alongside midwifery units) and 2013-2016 (freestanding midwifery units and home births). METHODS: Multi-disciplinary panels reviewed medical notes for each death, assessing and grading quality of care by consensus, with reference to national standards and guidance. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. RESULTS: 64 deaths were reviewed, 30 stillbirths and 34 neonatal deaths. At the start of labour care, 23 women were planning birth in an alongside midwifery unit, 26 in a freestanding midwifery unit and 15 at home. In 75% of deaths, improvements in care were identified which may have made a difference to the outcome for the baby. Improvements in care were identified which may have made a difference to the mother's physical and psychological health and wellbeing in 75% of deaths. Issues with care were identified around risk assessment and decisions about planning place of birth; intermittent auscultation; transfer during labour; resuscitation and neonatal transfer; follow-up and local review. CONCLUSIONS: These confidential enquiry findings do not address the overall safety of midwifery-led settings for healthy women with straightforward pregnancies, but suggest areas where the safety of care can be improved. Maternity services should review their care with respect to our recommendations. FUNDING: This paper reports research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme through the Policy Research Unit in Maternal Health and Care, 108/0001. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. SK was part funded by the NIHR Applied Research Centre (ARC) West Midlands.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/1471-0528.16327

Type

Journal article

Journal

BJOG

Publication Date

21/05/2020

Keywords

Birth Centres, Home Birth, Midwifery, Perinatal Death, Quality of Health Care, Stillbirth