California College of Midwives |
Legislative Fact Sheet with Citations |
Midwifery
as the "Gold Standard" |
|
"Historically, obstetrics has been the standard to which midwifery is compared. Perhaps the time has come for obstetrics to be held to a midwifery standard for normal childbirth." Midwifery Care: The "Gold Standard" for Normal Childbirth? Albers, et al; Birth 26:1 March 1999 Ample data support the premise that on average, midwives and physicians manage labor and delivery differently in healthy women at term (2-4), with midwives more likely to use low technology care measures [such as} oral fluids, walking and position change, bath or showers,... and bedside emotional support. These care measures are less resource intensive and are appreciated by many women." Midwifery Care: The "Gold Standard" for Normal Childbirth? Albers, et al; Birth 26:1 March 1999 The Midwifery Model of Care differs from the obstetrical model in ways that are beneficial to mothers and babies. Midwifery care produces equally good or better maternal and infant outcomes as does obstetrical management, with much lower rates of intervention and medication. The Thinking Woman Guide to a Better Birth, Henci Goer, 1999 Because all drugs and invasive technologies used in labor have potential averse effects, it seems obvious that using less of them, where possible, is a good idea and should promote the health of childbearing women and their babies. Midwifery Care: The "Gold Standard" for Normal Childbirth? Albers, et al; Birth 26:1 March 1999 In the future liability insurance companies may even favor physicians who collaborate with midwives, because litigation is much less likely to occur when outcomes are good and client satisfaction is high. Editorial, Journal of Nurse Midwifery, Vol 40, Nov/Dec 1995 The consistent message is that midwifery care for essentially healthy women is at least as safe and effective as physician care. Given the effectiveness of midwifery care for labor, the style of intrapartum care should be a priority discussion topic in the national health agenda. ... We need to be asking why so many aspects of current [obstetrical] practice are inconsistent with evidence-based recommendations for childbirth. Midwifery Care: The "Gold Standard" for Normal Childbirth? Albers, et al; Birth 26:1 1999 Low-risk women at term are the clear majority of all childbearing women and nearly all give birth in hospitals. As such normal childbirth claims a significant portion of our total health care budget. If using fewer technologic care measures in healthy women is equally effective as using them more routinely and if this style of care is less expensive and more pleasant for the laboring woman, it calls for a radical reorientation of the process and goals of intrapartum care. Midwifery Care: The "Gold Standard" for Normal Childbirth? Albers, et al; Birth 26:1 March 1999 One New Jersey CNM practice that cared for 274 women, 240 of whom gave birth at home between 1990 an 1994, showed a savings to clients and/or the insurance industry of $1.25 million. Editorial, Journal of Nurse Midwifery, Vol 40, no 6, Nov/Dec 1995 Legislative Fact Sheet with Citations