Independent Midwives UK Research Database, 2002-2012

<p>The Independent Midwives UK (IMUK) Research Database project was set up in 2002 as a prospective data collection. The aim was to collect a wide range of data from the IMs' case notes, covering antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care. Each client was asked to sign a consent form giving permission for the data to be used. Research databases are normally designed to provide the minimum dataset that will satisfy the research requirements. The IMUK database took the opposite approach, collecting a wide range of data from the outset, with a 100% sample. This decision was made since it was neither practicable nor possible to contact clients for corrections and additions after the maternity care episode was completed. This has resulted in a dataset both comprehensive in scope and rich in detail. It may be particularly interesting because of the high proportion of home births (over 60%).</p><p>Independent Midwives UK (IMUK) is a membership organisation for independent midwives (IMs) in the UK. All IMUK's full members are professionally trained midwives, and are regulated by the NMC. IMs work autonomously as lead health professionals for maternity care, booking clients outside the NHS system, although almost all clients booked are also entitled to GP, specialist and emergency care as NHS patients. More than 50% of births attended by independent midwives are home births.</p>