4 Sept
Maternity care that involves a midwife as the main care provider leads to better outcomes for most women, according to a team of university researchers.
Hora Soltani, professor of maternal and infant health at Sheffield Hallam University is the co-author of a new study that found women who receive continued care throughout pregnancy and birth from a small group of midwives are less likely to give birth prematurely than when their care was shared between different obstetricians, GPs and midwives.
The study, which has today been published in the healthcare-acclaimed Cochrane Library, also found pregnant women required fewer interventions during labour and birth when cared for by midwives.
In many countries, including the UK and Australia, midwives act as the main providers of care for women throughout pregnancy, labour and birth. In midwife-led care, there is an emphasis on normality, a continuity of care and being cared for by a known, trusted midwife throughout the entire pregnancy and following birth.
Midwife-led continuity of care is provided by a team of midwives who are the main care providers, however referral to medical colleagues may occur if there are any deviations from the norm. This contrasts with medical-led models of care, where an obstetrician or family physician is primarily responsible, and with shared-care, where responsibility is shared between different healthcare professionals.
To read more go to: www.shu.ac.uk/mediacentre/news