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Additional file 1. The Philips Avalon Beltless solution pictured here is attached to the woman���s abdomen using five small adhesive electrodes similar to those used for adult cardiac monitoring by electrocardiogram (ECG). Signals are transmitted via a small pod that is similar in size to a matchbox. Unlike the CTG, once applied, the wearable device should not require adjustment by the midwife when the woman mobilises or her fetus changes position. The beltless solution records and digitises data pertaining to the fetal heart rate, maternal heart rate and uterine activity, transmitting data wirelessly from the pod (attached to the woman���s abdomen) to the base station. Although different technology is used to collect the data versus conventional CTG monitoring, the base station is compatible with existing CTG machinery and infrastructure installed in the majority of Australian hospitals. No additional skills or knowledge are required from clinicians to interpret the visual data, which appear almost identical to the data produced by a CTG.

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Health. Background: Homebirth is an uncommon event in Australia, with only 0.3% of all births occurring at home. Despite this low rate, there is evidence of consumer demand for out of hospital births. In order to meet this demand, 14 publicly-funded homebirth programs have been established in Australian maternity hospitals over the past two decades. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore midwives’ experiences of providing publicly-funded homebirth in Australia. Methods: Twenty one semi-structured interviews were conducted with midwives and midwifery managers who had recent experience of working in publicly-funded homebirth programs. A constructivist grounded theory approach was taken to enable exploration of the underlying social interactions and processes in the area of inquiry. Findings: Four overarching categories emerged from the data. These were: ‘Making the leap from hospital to home’, ‘Seeing birth in a new light’, ‘Building trust’ and ‘Recognising the benefits of publicly-funded homebirth’. Hospital-based midwives who were exposed to homebirth for the first time found their perspective of birth was transformed. Midwives noted a shift in the power dynamics when on the woman’s territory and many felt they were witnessing undisturbed birth for the first time. Midwives and midwifery managers faced challenges in establishing and maintaining publicly-funded homebirth programs. They needed to develop strong, collaborative working relationships with doctors and endured a high level of scrutiny regarding their practice. Overall, the majority of midwives enjoyed working in the model and felt it helped normalise homebirth as an option for low-risk women. Discussion: Homebirth has previously been regarded as being both geographically and ideologically distant from the hospital. The operation of publicly-funded homebirth programs, however, defies this characterisation by providing a homebirth service via public maternity hospitals and hospital-based midwives. The establishment of publicly-funded homebirth programs within Australian hospitals appears to have had a positive effect on attitudes towards homebirth, not only for women and midwives, but for allied healthcare providers who were previously mistrustful of homebirth. Conclusion: The transition from hospital-based to homebirth care provided an opportunity for midwives to work to the full scope of their practice. When well supported by colleagues and managers, transitioning into publicly-funded homebirth programs can be a positive experience for midwives. Additionally, exposure to homebirth has the potential to transform maternity care provider’s attitudes towards homebirth and significantly deepens their understanding of normal physiological birth.