Benefits and Risks Of Midwives

In the past several years American midwives have become more involved in low risk deliveries

than in the past. Low risk pregnancies have shown a safer delivery to low risk babies by a trained

midwife. A midwife is not a nurse, but a trained professional in the delivery and maintaining the

health of the mother and child. These deliveries have pros just as they have cons. Mothers now

have the choice to choose how they deliver and who they want to help them through this long

and joyous process. Weighing the benefits and risks comes after research has been conducted to

determine what is best for the mother and child, but in most cases, midwife delivery is a safe and

Benefits and Risks of Midwife Deliveries

Low Risk Pregnancies

Women with no health conditions, first time deliveries and age or length of pregnancy are

all good candidates for midwife deliveries. Pregnancies that fall between those perimeters are

considered low risk pregnancies, which are ideal for midwife deliveries. New studies have

shown the safety of midwives with low risk pregnancies. A recent British study has shown that

low risk deliveries with a midwife were more successful than a low risk birth in a hospital. Nine

percent of deliveries in the last year were delivered with a midwife(NICE guidelines).

In spite of the previously mentioned factors, risks may occur at anytime during the labor

and deliver process. Conditions may occur such as a breech baby, preeclampsia, or post partum

hemorrhage. When in these situations there are not a lot of options for the midwife. At that point

it is time to move to a hospital setting for the health of the mother and child. Moving the women

to a hospital is one of the biggest risks in midwife deliveries. This is because of the distance to

the closest hospital and the progression of the delivery which may bring complications on the

way. "Moving from home to hospital while in labor. Most transfers occur because labor has

stalled. It is rarely an emergency. In this study, 23% of first-time mothers transferred to the

hospital in labor, while in subsequent pregnancies only 7.5% of mothers made the move, for a

total transfer rate in labor of 10.9%. Transfers after the birth were rare.(Mana)"

Mortality Rate. A study conducted by the CDC in 1998 has shown a significant decrease

in the mortality rate of midwife deliveries. Midwife deliveries show a 19% lower mortality rate

than those delivered by OB/GYNs.(CDC 1998). Each deliver had its differences and its own

complications. Though most of the deliveries with complications were delivered by a physician

to avoid a health crisis for the expectant mother. The over all mortality rates in America has

dropped, the study shows.

Other Considerations. There are other things to be considered when deciding between a

midwife delivery and an OB/GYN delivery. Such things as the availability of a trained midwife

and approximate arrival time. How long will the women be in labor before the midwife will

arrive to attend her and the baby. Also other things to consider is cost of a midwife delivery as

opposed to a OB/GYN delivery. Which will the insurance provider accept as an option for the

delivery. Cost may contribute to the final choice of the future mother. "Although most midwives

do earn less than most physicians, the fee for basic maternity care provided by a midwife may be

the same or nearly the same as the fee for care provided by physicians who practice in the same

geographic area as the midwife.(Pence 1997)."

Conclusion. Although there are benefits and risks to midwife deliveries. Each mother is

responsible for the choice she makes on how she chooses to delivery her baby. Each situation

and each pregnancy is different from the next. Midwives and OB/GYN deliveries are both

options for mothers to choose from. Future mothers are who need to weight the benefits and risks

in their own situations to find the best option for the safe and healthy delivery of their child.

References

Judith, P. (1997). Effects On Midwifery Care on Costs And Other Special Contributions.

InMidwifery & Childbirth (p. 386). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Temple University Press.

Midwives Alliance of North America. (n.d.). Retrieved April 28, 2015, from

www.mana.org

http://mana.org/pdfs/DOR-Outcomes-Paper-Fact-Sheet-on-Risk.pdf

New Study Shows Lower Mortality Rates for Infants Delivered By Certified Nurse

Midwives. (2010, January 22). Retrieved April 28, 2015, from

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/98news/midwife.htm

Rehm, D. (2015, January 13). New Research On The Safety Of Using Midwives For

Low-Risk Deliveries - The Diane Rehm Show. Retrieved April 28, 2015, from

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2015-01-

13/new_research_on_the_safety_of_using_midwives_for_low_risk_deliveries

http://www.nice.org.uk/