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FAQs

What are midwifery led units?

Midwifery-led units are maternity units which are staffed and, in most cases, run by midwives.

Midwifery units promote a philosophy of normal and natural labour and childbirth, in a halfway house environment between home and hospital offer facilities which may not be available in your local hospital, such as family accommodation, water pools and complementary therapies.

Whilst specialist care such as an epidural or a caesarean section are not available within midwifery-led units, if specialist care is needed or the labour is not progressing well, the mother will be transferred to the nearest hospital maternity unit by ambulance.

Midwifery-led units can be provided in the community or alongside to conventional maternity units.