RUNNING HEAD: BIRTH IN THE UK

Giving Birth in the United Kingdom

Manaia Genovia

NURS 320 Maternity

Professor Aganon

October 6, 2016
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Pregnancy

In the United Kingdom, a pregnant woman receives antenatal checks similar to the

standards in the United States. The National Health Service (NHS) covers prenatal care, birth

care and postpartum care, which include daily home visits. Women may choose to give birth in a

private hospital for a fee. A midwife will most likely care for a pregnant woman whose

pregnancy is low-risk. Most women never see an obstetrician, unless they have a high-risk

pregnancy (NHS Choice, 2016).

Labor and Delivery

The UK offers a variety to places for delivery including labor wards, birth centers or

home births. A labor ward is a section of a hospital for deliveries; they include a delivery suite,

obstetric unit, or consultant-led maternity unit. Women of high-risk pregnancies are

recommended to give birth in a labor ward, where doctors and medical equipment are available.

(Birth environments, n.d.). A birth center is midwife-led unit, where is emphasis is a natural

birth. Birth centers are located alongside a labor ward in a hospital or in a purpose-built building.

Women who give birth in a birth center have low-risk pregnancies and strive to have a natural

birth without the use of medical pain relief such as epidural anesthesia. If complications were to

occur or if the woman chooses to have an epidural, they will be transferred to a labor ward

(Birth environments, n.d.). A home birth is an option for woman who chooses to have a natural

birth surrounded by familiar settings and without access medical pain relief such as an epidural.

A midwife will carry on the delivery of a home birth, however if complications were to occur,

the expecting mother would be transferred to a hospital. A variety of pain relief options are

available including hydrotherapy, intramuscular painkillers injections, gas and air (Entonox),

Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulations (TENS), and epidural anesthesia (UK pregnancy
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guide: Giving birth in the United Kingdom, n.d.). Epidural anesthesia is only available in labor

wards. Eating small portions of food such a toast, biscuits, fruits, or soup is allowed during early

labor unless complications indicate the need for a cesarean then eating or drinking is not allowed.

In a low risk pregnancy, drinking is allowed. Isotonic fluids are encouraged to maintain

hydration and energy during active labor (NCCWCH, 2014)

Home Birth

In a home birth, laboring women are expected to call their midwife if their water breaks

or regular contractions occur every 3-5 minutes. They are encouraged to move around in an

upright position during labor to allow gravity to aid in the dilation of the cervix (NCCWCH,

2014). Laboring women are instructed to sit on the toilet prior to pushing to open up the pelvis

and give an opportunity to have a bowel movement before the final stage of labor. As the

contractions become stronger and longer in the transition stage of labor, they are coached to pant

during contractions to avoid pushing and possibly tearing the cervix. When the woman is

expected to deliver soon, she is assisted into the birthing pool if she is not already there. After the

baby is delivered, the umbilical cord is not clamped right away; instead the midwives wait for it

to stop pulsating to allow the baby to receive the remaining blood supply and nutrients from the

placenta. The new mother is assisted to the loo/ bathroom where she delivers the placenta in a

bag covering the toilet.

Postpartum

After birth, a small selection of mothers are allowed to be released as early as six hours,

however it is more common to spend a night or two in the postnatal ward (UK pregnancy guide:

Giving birth in the United Kingdom, n.d.). British law requires an appropriate car seat for the

newborn if traveling by car. A midwife will visit the mother and newborn every other day until
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about ten days or up to four weeks depending on the situation. A health visitor, who is a nurse

with special training, is assigned to the new mother to pay regular visits during the early years to

help the parents chart the progression of their child and keep track of vaccinations (UK

pregnancy guide: Giving birth in the United Kingdom, n.d.). Maternity leave is entitled to

working mothers who meet the conditions for statutory maternity pay with their employers.

Mothers may receive a total of 52 weeks of maternity leave, however it is only paid for up to 39

weeks. In the first 6 weeks of leave, maternity pay covers 90 percent of the average gross weekly

earnings and the remaining 33 weeks covers 90 percent of the average weekly earnings or GBP

139.58 a week, whichever is lower (UK pregnancy guide: Giving birth in the United Kingdom,

n.d.).

Infant care and Feeding

Each culture has superstitions and myths based on old traditions passed on from

generation to generation. British people believe that carrying a new baby three times around the

house will protect the baby from colic. Choosing the pram before the baby is born is quite safe,

but it must not be delivered to the home until after the baby is born. It is good luck to put coins

or money in the pram of a newborn. Some believe that teething troubles could be eased if the

gums were rubbed with the mother's gold wedding ring. Breastfeeding is uncommon in the UK

for an unknown reason. Statistics show that 81% of mothers tried breastfeeding at some point,

34% breastfed at 6 months, and only 0.5% continued breastfeeding at 12 months (Gallagher,

2016).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the British cultures take on pregnancy and childbirth has similarities and

differences with the United States. Midwives are the primary health care members during the
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pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum period. Births outside of the hospital are common for

those whose pregnancy is low-risk for complications and strive towards a natural birth. Newborn

breastfeeding rates are very low in the UK compared to other parts of the world. The British

culture is a mix between practices that are modern and traditional.

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References

Birth environments. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.which.co.uk/birth-choice/environments

Gallagher, J. (2016). UK 'world's worst' at breastfeeding. Retrieved from

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-35438049

NCCWCH. (2014). Intrapartum care: care of healthy women and their babies during childbirth.

National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health, Clinical guideline,

190. www.nice.org.uk

NHS Choices. (2016). Your pregnancy and baby - Pregnancy and baby guide. Retrieved from

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/pregnancy-and-baby-care.aspx

UK pregnancy guide: Giving birth in the United Kingdom. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.expatica.com/uk/healthcare/uk-pregnancy-giving-birth-in-the-united-

kingdom_107707.html