To see or not to see? Midwives' perceptions of reduced antenatal attendances for 'low-risk' women

Objective: to explore the views of midwives towards traditional and flexibl e schedules of antenatal attendance for women at low risk. Design: a qualitative approach using focus groups. Setting: three NHS Trusts providing maternity care in and around Bristol, Sample: 14 midwives who had provided antenatal care to women participating in the Bristol Antenatal Care Study. Findings: midwives generally expressed support for a move away from the tra ditional schedule of antenatal attendances, suggesting that this represente d a move towards the acceptance of pregnancy as a normal life event,They re cognised that some women would prefer flexible care and the possibility of a reduction in the number of antenatal attendances. However, they suggested that some women would require additional information in order to feel conf ident in these circumstances. The midwives also recognised that both they a nd pregnant women have reservations about reducing contact during the anten atal period. Central to these reservations is a concern that women's psycho social as well as physical needs may go unmet if antenatal contact is reduc ed. Implications for practice: although in principle supporting a move away fro m the traditional schedule of antenatal attendances, the reservations felt by midwives towards a reduction in antenatal attendances are reflected in t heir practice. These concerns currently impede any radical move away from t he traditional schedule of antenatal check-ups and will need to be addresse d by midwifery managers prior to the implementation of a more flexible sche dule of antenatal attendances, if any such change is to be sustainable. (C) 1999 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.