Making normal birth a reality

A consensus statement has been developed by the members of the Maternity Care Working Party (MCWP) for:

• managers, commissioners and providers of maternity care,
• teachers and students in midwifery, medical and public health education, and
• maternity services user representatives.

The MCWP wants to encourage a positive focus on normal birth. The statement calls for a standard definition for normal labour and birth so that normal birth rates can be audited and compared with confidence. The Information Centre in England has adopted a measure for normal labour and birth, called ‘normal delivery’. As health systems are separate for each of the four countries of the United Kingdom, we recognise that health communities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will need to consider whether this works for them.