Table 1. Description of alternatives, attributes and levels.

Birth setting alternatives	[0] Home
	[1] Freestanding midwifery unit
	[2] Alongside midwifery unit
	[3] Labour ward
Attribute	Levels
Reputation	[0] Your friends/family have had a poor experience of this option and would not recommend
	[1] Your friends family have no previous experience of this option
	[2]Your friends/family have a good experience of this option and would recommend
Continuity of care	[0] You get to know your midwife during your pregnancy and where possible they look after you throughout labour and birth.
	[1] You meet a team of 4–6 midwives during pregnancy, one of whom looks after you throughout labour and birth
	[2] You meet the midwife for the first time during labour (e.g. on arrival at the unit), and they look after your throughout labour and birth.
	[3] You meet a midwife for the first time during labour. They will look after you during labour and birth, but if the unit is busy they may look after other women in labour at the same time.
Distance from home	[0] 0 to 15 minutes
	[1] 15 to 30 minutes
	[2] 30 to 60 minutes
	[3] More than 60 minutes
Time to see a doctor	[0] 0 to 10 minutes
	[1] 10 to 20 minutes
	[2] 20 to 40 minutes
	[3] 40 to 60 minutes
	[4] More than 60 minutes
Can your partner stay overnight after the birth of your baby	[0] Your partner cannot stay with you overnight
	[1] Your partner can stay with you on a ward shared with others
	[2] Your partner can stay with you in a room not shared with others
Chance of straightforward birth	[0] 5 out of 10 women have straightforward birth, 5 out of 10 have intervention
	[1] 6 out of 10 women have straightforward birth, 4 out of 10 have intervention
	[2] 7 out of 10 women have straightforward birth, 3 out of 10 have intervention
Safety for baby	[0] Slightly worse than average (10 out of 1,000 have a poor outcome for baby, 990 of 1,000 births baby is born healthy)
	[1] Average (4 out of 1,000 births have poor outcome for baby, 996 of 1,000 births baby is born healthy)
	[2] Slightly better than average (2 out of 1,000 births have a poor outcome for baby, 998 of 1,000 births baby is born healthy)