Enabling women across the globe to birth in a Midwife-led Unit: Translation of a guideline from English into Catalan, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish

Title: Enabling women across the globe to birth in a Midwife-led Unit: Translation of a guideline from English into Catalan, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish.
Background
Evidence strongly supports women who have had a straightforward pregnancy to give birth in a midwife-led unit (birthing centre). The maternal and neonatal benefits include: significantly increased likelihood (nearly twice the odds) of having a normal labour and birth, experiencing less maternal morbidity from unnecessary intervention(s) including amniotomy, augmentation of labour, instrumental vaginal birth, opiate or regional analgesia. There are increased rates of established breastfeeding, no significant impact on rates of infant mortality and babies are less likely to need admission to a neonatal unit. There is evidence of positive experiences of care in a MLU and economic benefits, saving approximately £850 per mother and baby when compared with birth in an obstetric unit.
Purpose
This presentation will initially outline the guideline and pathway; describe the process and international impact to date of translating the guideline and pathway from English into six different languages.
Discussion
Having co-produced the evidence based guideline and pathway in Northern Ireland, subsequent dissemination led to international maternity care colleagues expressing the need to utilise the guideline and pathway to develop midwife-led units and enable women to give birth in a MLU within their country. Following the WHO forward and back process of translation, expert senior midwives undertook the detailed translation of the related documents for utilisation and implementation in the individual countries.
Application to midwifery practice, education or regulation/policy
Utilising an evidenced base guideline and pathway for admission and care within a MLU can further develop midwife-led units and midwife-led care as highly recommended by World Health Organisation.
Key message
Translation of this guideline and pathway into Catalan, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish is further evidence of the value of sharing learning and the importance of this guideline and pathway in shaping practice in other countries outside Northern Ireland.