Specialist units needed to counter high rate of induced births

A University of Ulster midwifery specialist has called for the introduction of specialist birthing units across Northern Ireland.

According a senior lecturer in midwifery at the UU, Dr Marlene Sinclair, birthing units offer low-risk pregnant women the opportunity to have a low-intervention birthing experience. The measure was necessary she said as Northern Ireland has the highest rate of induced births in the UK - over 30%.

"But unlike in the rest of the UK, we have no specialist birthing units that can offer appropriate women the opportunity to give birth without induction or invasive technological methods," Dr Sinclair said.

"Making birthing units, which have been so successful in the rest of the UK - available to Northern Ireland women would increase the choices available, and free up the high-tech facilities for those women who really need them."

Dr Sinclair's call comes as the health department prepares to issue for consultation a detailed model specification for midwife-led stand-alone maternity units.

Following consultation, decisions will be made whether to proceed with two pilot schemes for midwife-led units.

Ahead of the consultation, the University of Ulster is holding an international conference on the subject at the end of this month.

Called 'Moving Midwifery Forwards', the conference is scheduled for UU's Jordanstown campus on March 29, and will explore the efficiency and effectiveness of midwife-led care in maternity services, and is aimed at giving Northern Ireland's midwives greater influence in maternity services.

The conference will bring together researchers, educationalists, practitioners, service users, managers and policy makers. Delegates will hear presenters from Canada, Ireland, the UK and Europe.

One of the keynote speakers is Ellen Hodnett, holder of the Heather M Reisman Chair in Perinatal Nursing Research at the University of Toronto, a leading international researcher in care for childbearing women. She has published more than 90 works on the subject and is currently involved in research into the care of childbearing women.

(GMcG)