[bottle~rocket]

A study has found that women who have one midwife caring for them during pregnancy are much more likely to avoid medical interventions such as caesareans.

This type of care is only available to a small proportion of women in Australia, I wish it was much more widely available.
[quote]WOMEN who have one midwife caring for them during pregnancy are more likely to avoid medical interventions during labour including caesarean sections, Australian research has found.

The world's largest comparison of one-to-one midwifery care against standard public hospital care also found the one-to-one model was better for babies, reducing the need for special care after birth.

Researchers from La Trobe University randomly assigned 2314 women with low-risk pregnancies to either a midwife for consistent care or standard care at the Royal Women's Hospital between 2007 and 2010. Standard care involved a mix of random midwives whereas one-to-one midwifery involved a primary midwife with several known backup midwives who could step in if the primary midwife was unavailable.

Read more: http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/birth/birt...0726-22vuv.html

This post has been edited by EBeditor: 27/07/2012, 09:52 AM

Reason for edit: Changed to EB version of article

[R2B2]

spot on. midwifery lead caseload care is tops.

[Sayerley]

I didn't get into caseload midwives with DD and had loads of intervention.

Got in this time and have fingers crossed for a VBAC!

[GoodGollyMolly]

Interesting. I wonder what te underlying causes are, as they mention is it that the midwives working one on one are more experienced/have a different philosophy/actually do things differentl? or is it that women feel more confident leading up to an supported during labour and birth with one on one care?

Disclaimer: I went through a midwife led program and LOVED it, really wish this option was available for more women! Surely if it's leading to less costly interventions there's a good economic as well as public health reason to expand these programs?

[froglett]

Agree 100% with this article! My midwife is amazing, and completely supportive. So excited that I got into this program.

[runnybabbit]

I am birthing at Townsville Birth Centre and I will have one midwife for my pregnancy -- with one alternate, for when she's away or already worked 12 hours.

I'm only 16.5 weeks but I'm so glad I've chosen this model of care. I am lucky indeed.

[Studybug]

I just got the call today confirming that there's a place for me in the group midwifery program for this pregnancy. So happy to have gotten the call! And now a little bit happier after reading this.

[TheGreenSheep]

spot on. midwifery lead caseload care is tops.

I have only the best of things to say about caseload. The appts were done at home, the MW delivered, she saw me on the ward ( only there a night) and back home for after care. Would do it again in a heartbeat if I were having more. I could rattle on for ages.

[poss71]

My experience was very positive.

I had a 96 min labour, from when waters broke and things started getting serious. My previous labour the year before had been 15 hours established, so it was pretty full on by comparison.

At one point, I was feeling overwhelmed by the speed of it all, lack of sleep and the discomfort of no waters to ease the contractions.

I listened for my midwife and she was completely silent. No comments whatsoever, no moving around checking things. I realised, because I had learned her style over the months, that she knew I could do it, I was doing fine. The panic receded and I got on with it.

She knew me and I knew her. Total trust that she would act if necessary and let me get on with it, if not.

If only we were having more... I'd recommend it to anyone willing to listen!

[leisamd]

I had quite good standard public hospital experiences, then a caseload midwifery program with my 3rd and it was incredible. The difference was astounding. My midwife was so great and supportive! I would do everything in my power to get her again!