Dear Nigel and all
I disagree with Nigel's disparaging and very inaccurate description of a
domino birth. "Domino" means 'domiciliary in and out'. In other words a
woman receives community based antenatal care, once she is in labour and
accompanied by 'her midwife' she goes to hospital or birth centre for the
birth and then returns home with her midwife probably about six hours after
the birth. Thus she receives continuity of care and carer throughout
pregnancy, labour and the puerperium. The same midwife (s) care for the
woman throughout each phase of her birthing experience. The major
differences between a homebirth and domino birth are that the birth occurs
in hospital and if necessary a medical practitioner works in collaboration
with a midwife.
Women choose this option for a number of reasons. In the project I was
describing more often than not women who are ineligible for homebirth
(according to project criteria eg. VBAC) but still want continuity of care
and carer which is based primarily in the community choose a domino birth.
Sometimes they or their families want the reassurance that 'hospital
facilities ie analgesia, doctors etc' are available.
Consumer satisfaction with this aspect of the project is very positive as
are birth outcomes. The VBAC rate has improved remarkably. It is
interesting that fairly frequently once they have established a trusting
relationship with their midwife women who are initially booked as domino
births prefer to birth at home. In contrast women who book as homebirths
rarely change to dominos.
I hope this explains it a bit better.
Carol
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|