Women's Decision-Making And Factors Affecting Their Choice Of ...

The committee issued a press notice informing the public of their terms of
reference, and invited individuals and organisations to submit their views to them.
In addition, some individuals and organisations such as the Association of
Supervisors of Midwives, Medical Practitioners Union, Catholic Women's
League, National Birthday Trust, British Dental Association, College of General
Practitioners, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists were personally invited to give their views. The report of the
committee was published in 1959 (Ministry of Health 1959).
The evidence about the place of confinement came from representatives
from women's organisations, Regional Hospital Boards, and the Royal College of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The consensus of those who gave evidence
was that there was an unsatisfied demand for hospital confinements. However,
the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is singled out as having
"emphasised that in their opinion hospital confinement offered maximum safety
for the mother and the baby" (para 53). The report goes on to express that many
of the witnesses were concerned about risk of infection to mother and baby, and
considered that the risk might be higher in hospital than home confinement. Some
of the witnesses felt that beds in general hospitals were provided for sick persons
and should be used for that purpose rather than to meet the convenience and
preferences of women, who could safely be delivered at home (para 54).
Many other reasons, presented in paragraph 55 of the report, were given in
favour of home confinement. For instance, the report states that nearly all
witnesses recognised that up to 20% of women preferred a home confinement,
and many pointed out the important physical and psychological advantages when
a normal confinement takes place at home. Such advantages include the fact that
the relationship between the mother and baby developed better, breast-feeding
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