Dear Deborah
No this is not research except in the most informal, small-scale and
qualitative fashion but it is clear to me, from talking to women, that by
the time they reach term (or before, or certainly after) they are thoroughly
fed up with the fatigue and discomfort of late pregnancy, and being unable
to plan ahead professionally or socially, and simply want to get on with
having the baby. Once they think labour has started, anything suggested that
appears to be a retrograde step, like going home from hospital, feels
utterly unacceptable.
As you indicate, this being retrograde may well not be the case, as labour
may progress better in home circumstances, but being told that once you've
struggled to hospital just feels like another 'half-truth' you are told
because 'they' don't want you hanging about!
I have always thought that the practice once carried out in Domino birth
schemes, where a midwife visits a woman at home in early labour and assesses
progress, is an excellent measure - the women is reassured without having to
make the (what seems like final) effort to get into hospital, and can carry
on reasonably normal life for as long as possible without anxiety. Is there
anywhere where there are enough community midwives around to still do this?
Good luck with your work on this.
Elizabeth
----- Original Message -----
From: Deborah Caine <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2001 12:13 AM
Subject: early labouring in hospital
> Dear all, I am trying to find some information about why women choose to
> remain in hospital in very early stages in labour rather than going home
to
> their more familiar surroundings, when clearly given the choice.Is anyone
> aware of any studies in either this area, or in the area of whether better
> progress is made when women return home to 'establish'in labour rather
than
> being admitted onto an antenatal ward? Many thanks for any
> suggestions/leads. Deborah Caine
>
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