Table 3 Important or very important founding philosophies for birth centres
Freestanding birth centre n = 3 | Alongside birth centre n = 14 | On-site birth centre n = 6 | TOTAL n = 23 (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
To provide a non-clinical homelike environment | 3 | 14 | 6 | 23 (100) |
To facilitate one-to-one/two support by MCA | 3 | 14 | 5 | 22 (96) |
Commitment to physiological birth | 3 | 14 | 6 | 23 (100) |
Encourage women’s rights and choices towards place to give birth | 2 | 11 | 4 | 17 (74) |
Encourage women’s rights and choices towards the way to give birth | 2 | 13 | 4 | 19 (83) |
Encourage family involvement | 1 | 7 | 3 | 11 (48) |
Minimal obstetric interventions | 3 | 10 | 2 | 15 (65) |
Minimal pharmacological pain management | 3 | 10 | 3 | 16 (70) |