Increasing access to antenatal education – The Real Birth Company
The Real Birth Company (RBC) provides online antenatal education for expectant families, in-person training for midwives, and an Inclusion Midwife to enhance community engagement.
Impact
- 545 individuals received free antenatal education in the first year of RBC’s implementation within University Hospitals Plymouth
- Adopted by all Trusts in Devon and Somerset and several units in the West of England.
- Driving better engagement from underserved communities.
- Positive feedback from majority of pregnant people surveyed.
Project summary
The Real Birth Company (RBC) offer a comprehensive online antenatal education package for pregnant women and people, face-to-face training for midwives, and an Inclusion Midwife to support engagement from midwives and communities. They aim to offer equitable access to expert antenatal information to inform birthing decisions and help to avoid trauma.
Health Innovation South West conducted an evaluation of RBC’s implementation at University Hospitals Plymouth and then shared the findings with the perinatal community in the South West through learning events. The evaluation found that RBC’s implementation at University Hospitals Plymouth more than doubled access to free antenatal education in its first year.
Midwives who received the training and are now delivering antenatal education to families felt empowered to lead their own education sessions, supplemented by the RealBirth digital workshop.
The majority of pregnant people surveyed said they found the course very helpful in planning for birth, that it was easy to use and understand, and that it changed their thoughts and feelings about birth.
Overall, there is evidence that RBC’s services are supporting a notable increase in access to NHS-funded antenatal education, with a trend that suggests this reach is expanding further.
Rationale
NICE suggests antenatal care should be readily and easily accessible. Education is considered an essential aspect of antenatal care but it is often not offered ‘in-house’ or promoted as standard by services. Research indicates that certain groups, such as those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, ethnic minorities, and rural communities, are less likely to access antenatal education compared to their counterparts.
Without adequate education about prenatal care, childbirth, and newborn care, expectant parents may be less equipped to make informed decisions and adopt healthy behaviours during pregnancy and childbirth, leading to higher rates of complications and adverse birth outcomes.
Key stakeholders
- Health Innovation South West conducted an evaluation of the University Hospital Plymouth’s implementation of the Real Birth Company and then shared the findings with the perinatal community in the South West through learning events. We have also connected with the RBC digital platform in our PERIPrem and APPEAL projects, integrating patient-facing documentation for ease of access and translation.
- University Hospitals Plymouth supported the evaluation through sharing aggregate data and circulating staff surveys.
- South West Regional Maternity & Perinatal Team part funded the Real Birth Company evaluation at University Hospitals Plymouth.
It has been amazing to work with both The Real Birth Company and Health Innovation South West on this evaluation project. It's great to work with equally enthused colleagues who want to look at the services for families and how we can continue to improve on quality.
Transformation Midwife, University Hospitals Plymouth
