In the United States, it’s common for pregnant women to see an obstetrician for prenatal care and to deliver their baby. But in most other parts of the world, it’s primarily midwives – care providers who are often nurses and certified by a national organization – who care for pregnant women.
The concept behind the midwifery model is to offer continuous care from a trusted provider, and focus on the natural ability of women to give birth with minimum medical intervention. But is that best for moms and babies?
A new systematic review finds that, yes, using midwives does provide benefits for both women and their newborn children.
The review included 13 studies involving more than 16,000 women with both low- and high-risk pregnancies. The evidence showed that women cared for by midwives throughout their pregnancies and the delivery of their babies were less likely to : 1) use an epidural for pain relief, 2) need instruments such as forceps to aid in birth, and 3) experience preterm birth.
The reviewers conclude that a midwife model of care is best for most women, except those with a history of medical complications. This finding has major implications for pregnant women and health care providers in the U.S., where less than 10 percent of births are attended by midwives.
Personally, I feel extremely lucky because my town has a fantastic midwifery practice that provides prenatal care and delivers babies at our local hospital – services that I’ve used during all three of my pregnancies.
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