Abstract
Homebirths should only occur if there can be adequate midwifery care, appropriate equipment and the ability for hospital transfer if necessary. These pre-requisites have inevitably been affected by the COVID-19 crisis, which has resulted in the cancellation of some birthplace services, subsequently reducing women’s choices with regards to their birthing experience.1 New guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) encourages the consideration of ‘appropriately prepared’ maternity support workers (MSWs) in low-risk homebirths as second birth attendants prior to the cancellation of midwife-led birthplace options.1 Therefore, this article will explore whether the pandemic calls for the re-evaluation and extension of the MSW role with regards to homebirths, and what training is required to ensure we have competent, capable and highly skilled MSWs in homebirth settings.
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