Increase in midwives could cut c-sections

THE number of babies born via caesarean section and the rate of labour complications could significantly decrease if there were more midwives leading pregnancy care, a new study has found.

Researchers from Deakin University combed international studies to look at the outcomes of midwife-led models compared to traditional doctor centric care.

The 15 publications concluded that if midwives were the main care provider throughout pregnancy and labour there were fewer unplanned c-sections and surgical deliveries overall, and fewer episiotomies.

Less than one in four women have access to midwife-led pregnancy care, with services offered at Victorian public hospitals boasting significant waiting lists.

Just 18 per cent of Australian births were via c-section in the early 1990s, but now just over a third of all labours are performed this way.

Almost half of deliveries in private hospitals are caesarean.

Medically necessary surgical births can be life saving for mother and baby.

But lead researcher Professor Alison Hutchinson, codirector of Deakin’s Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, said given the growing evidence of benefits of vaginal delivery – such as increased bonding, breastfeeding rates and a quicker recovery – it was important women could make evidence-based choices about their care and hospital administrations increased access to these services.

“I hope the findings can be taken on board by hospital boards, because change needs to be driven by health services,” Prof Hutchinson said.

“The continuity of care and that relationship between a midwife and woman seems to be important.”