ACDM

California College of Midwives

May 2001 Principles of Mother-Friendly Childbearing Services

Planned Home Birth ~ Emergency Transport &
The Interface Among Midwives, Nurses & Physicians

Adapted from publications by College of Midwives of British Columbia, Canada, 1997

3.0 PLANNED HOME B1RTH

EMERGENCY TRANSPORT TO HOSPITAL

In an emergency transfer from home to hospital during the intrapartum or immediate postpartum, clear organization, responsibilities, and teamwork are essential for a safe transport. Unless it is clearly quicker and safer to transport by private vehicle, emergency transport is normally assumed to take place by via Emergency Medical Transport (EMTs).

 3.1 Prior to Emergency

      Upon setting up practice the community midwife is encouraged to contact the local Emergency Services to establish a professional relationship with their personnel. It is helpful for paramedics to be familiar with the community midwives practicing in their area and when possible, to be familiarized with the training, licensure status, scope of practice, skills sets and limitations of community-based midwifery services.

 3.2 Emergency Transport Initiated  

 3.3 Emergency Transport Underway

 3.4 Arrival at the Hospital

 ·        The woman is admitted directly to the procedure / operating room.

 ·        The midwife provides appropriate antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum and transfer records and/or a verbal report.

 ·        Primary care is transferred to the physician, while the midwife continues to provided psychological support to the childbearing woman and her family and information to physicians and hospital personnel.  

3.5  Follow-up after mother/baby are stabilized, delivered or admitted to a special care unit