Birth Models That Work

Much of the social science and midwifery literature published in the last three decades heavily critiques the obstetrical treatment of birth. Rather than adding to this growing body of properly critical literature, we decided to take a positive and constructive approach, describing “birth models that work.” As the type of education practitioners receive strongly influences their practice ideology and style, we looked at both models of education and practice.

This presentation is based on a book which bears the same title as the presentation. We suggest characteristics of models that work and a means of implementing them, which include systems which rely on evidenced-based care, culturally appropriate interventions, respect for indigenous elements in the birth setting, accessibility to women of all income levels, financial viability, sustainability, replicability, and reflective practice (in which practitioners continually reflect on what they are doing and make efforts at improvement on an ongoing basis).

How particular models work will be illustrated by examples and stories, to make it accessible to practitioners and policy makers from a wide range of settings and cultures. The settings for the practice models we have chosen to present include hospitals, freestanding birth centers, clinics, and midwifery birth services. The educational models we present are based in universities, vocational programs, and out-of-hospital apprenticeship. These models include large-scale systems such as those of the Netherlands and Samoa, and smaller individual models in the UK, the US, Australia, Japan, Brazil, and Mexico.