Jenny Smith asks, It is time now, more than ever, to re-think maternity environments? She makes the following suggestions:

Antenatal waiting areas should have comfy seating with refreshment facilities whilst waiting.
The clinical rooms – require more relaxing lighting and colour schemes.

Main stream labour ward should have much softer environments such as the Carribean room where higher risk women can enjoy the relaxing comforts of the birth centre with use of birth balls,mats,birthing stools, music ,rocking chairs so that women can move around. Baby heart monitoring should be by telemetry (mobile cardiotocograph monitoring )so the mother to be has freedom to move during labour.

Post birth all women should be allowed to have their partner present . From experience of using a double bed over a number of years women and their partners greatly appreciated the time to bond together with their baby. This is useful for staff too as postnatal wards are very busy.

What do you think? It would be great to hear your thoughts?