Maternal attitudes to transfer before delivery

One hundred and one women provided, anonymously, retrospective information concerning their antenatal transfer from district general hospital to a central hospital housing the Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. 94% consider their transfer to have been worthwhile, including 83% of those whose babies did not survive. 85% of those whose infants were born alive think that the transfer vitally enhanced their relationship with the child when compared with the alternative of postnatal transfer of the neonate. About half, however, have incorrectly attributed the successful outcome of the pregnancy to expertise and superior facilities at the central hospital. Because this may have an important effect upon the management of their future pregnancies, patients who have been transferred antenatally should be advised as to the eventual significance of this part of their management.