Enabling access to birth in a midwife-led unit: implementation of a co-produced evidenced-based guideline

There is an increasing emphasis on the need to support women in planning their place of birth. In order to make a truly informed choice, women and midwives can benefit from evidence-based guidelines that provide them with easy-to-access information that will support their decision-making. In Northern Ireland there are currently eight midwife-led units (MLU) (with potential for more), which are most suitable as the place of birth for a woman with a straightforward pregnancy. This paper provides an overview of the ‘GAIN (RQIA) Guideline for admission to midwife-led units in Northern Ireland’. The guideline was informed by the evidence, and co-produced by women and maternity care professionals.