The burden and outcome of in utero transfers

To quantify the number of intrauterine transfers (IUTs) arranged by Embrace Yorkshire and Humber Infant and Children's Transport Service and, to determine the outcome of when women delivered their babies, or when they were discharged following transfer.

Identification of all IUTs Embrace arranged between January 1, 2011 and February 29, 2012 with data collection to determine delivery time or date of discharge.

There were 623 IUT referrals with a mean time taken to arrange a transfer of 109 minutes. The mean distance of IUT was 42.5 miles, and the main reason for IUT request was capacity of referring unit. 247 (52%) women delivered during the same admission and 156 delivered within 48 hours of transfer. Of those undelivered, 111 (48.7%) were discharged within 48 hours. Fibronectin test was used in 51 patients.

The IUT service provided by Embrace is busy, with significant demands on administrative staff time. Neonatal cot capacity and gestation are the main reasons for transfer. There is potentially a cohort of women who may not have benefitted from IUT. We suggest the use of obstetric expertise will enhance the service, while ongoing work looking at neonatal unit cot capacity problems continues.