Pregnancy

Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth: Childbirth Connection

A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth is an overview of results of the best available research about effects of specific maternity practices. The full text of the current edition (Oxford University Press, 2000) is available on this website courtesy of the authors: Murray Enkin, Marc J.N.C. Keirse, James Neilson, Caroline Crowther, Lelia Duley, Ellen Hodnett and Justus Hofmeyr.

 www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?clickedlink=194&ck=10218&area=2

The Benefits of Midwife-Led Care — Research

 Midwife-led care as safe as consultant-led care—MidU study

“MidU” study report—a major trial comparing midwifery-led and consultant-led maternity care

‘The results of a major study comparing two methods of maternity care, commissioned by the HSE and conducted by the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, were presented to the HSE on Friday December 18th.

‘This study involved 1653 women having babies in the HSE North-Eastern region from 2004 to 2007, and compared the usual consultant-led maternity care with a new model of care provided by midwives in two integrated Midwifery-led Units (MLUs) in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and Cavan General Hospital.’

Conclusion:

In concurrence with other international studies, “midwifery-led care, as practised in this study, is as safe as consultant-led care, results in less intervention, is viewed by women with greater satisfaction in some aspects of care and is more cost-effective.’ (p.244)

Read the complete MidU Study here.

Cochrane Review

Midwife-led versus other models of care for childbearing women

Hatem M, Sandall J, Devane D, Soltani H, Gates S. Midwife-led versus other models of care for childbearing women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD004667. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004667.pub2.

Background

Midwives are primary providers of care for childbearing women around the world. However, there is a lack of synthesised information to establish whether there are differences in morbidity and mortality, effectiveness and psychosocial outcomes between midwife-led and other models of care.

Objectives

To compare midwife-led models of care with other models of care for childbearing women and their infants.

Authors’ conclusions

All women should be offered midwife-led models of care and women should be encouraged to ask for this option.

Read the full Cochrane Review here.

 

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Infection – RCOG

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have put together information on the Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection. The “Preventing group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies: information for you” guidelines provide information on the infection, why it can be dangerous and ways for preventing this infection as recommended in the UK. According to the Guidelines, “Out of every 2000 newborn babies in the UK and Ireland, only one is diagnosed with neonatal GBS, but it can be very serious” (RCOG).

“Preventing group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies: information for you” can be found online here.