We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Events

ATTENTION: Due to the COVID-19 PANDEMIC, many events are being rescheduled for a later date, converted into virtual venues, or altogether cancelled. Please check with the event organizer or website prior to planning for any forthcoming event.

Midwife-Led Vaginal Births as Safe as Physician-Led Ones

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 30 Nov 2021
Print article
Image: Midwifery proves equal physician-guided births in low-risk pregnancies (Photo courtesy of Images)
Image: Midwifery proves equal physician-guided births in low-risk pregnancies (Photo courtesy of Images)
A new study shows that for vaginal births with a low risk of complications, midwifery outcomes are equal to those of physician-guided births.

Researchers at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (Kaunas, Lithuania) and the Institute of Pharmacoeconomics (Kaunas, Lithuania) conducted a study comparing outcomes of 348 low-risk singleton pregnancies. The researchers matched vaginal, low-risk births, of which 174 were led by an obstetrician/gynecologist, and another 174 were led by midwives. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared between the groups.

The results showed significant postpartum differences in hemorrhage between physician-led (169.5 mL) and midwifery-led labors (152.6 mL), hospital stay duration (3.3 and 3.1 days), Apgar five minute score (9.58 and 9.76), episiotomy rates, and pain relief. Significant differences were seen, but not confirmed, in obstetrical procedures used during labor, breastfeeding, birth induction, Apgar one minute scores, and successful vaginal birth. The study was published on October 15, 2021, in Open Medicine.

“Midwives are independent healthcare professionals, and not just assistants to the obstetrician-gynecologist,” said lead author Ingrida Poškienė, MD, of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. “We would like to make expectant mothers aware that low-risk births supervised by a midwife are as safe as those under supervision of a gynecologist, and we hope the study will encourage midwives to have more confidence in their competence and to take more responsibility for working independently.”

In contrast to the physician-led medical model, midwifery focuses on the normal biological processes of pregnancy and birth. Midwifery-led care can help improve quality of care, outcomes, and provide a more efficient distribution of health care resources by reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, stillbirth and preterm birth, decreasing unnecessary interventions, and improving psychosocial and public health outcomes. As a result, many countries are recommending a scaling up of midwifery-led care.

Related Links:
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
Institute of Pharmacoeconomics


Gold Supplier
Disposable Protective Suit For Medical Use
Disposable Protective Suit For Medical Use
New
Silver Supplier
Patient Simulator
PatSim 200
New
High-Frequency X-Ray Generator
Battery X-Ray Generator
New
Wound Dressing
Thin Absorbent Wound Dressing Featuring TASA

Print article
FIME - Informa

Channels

AI

view channel
Image: The AI tool can also tackle dangerous inequalities in heart attack diagnosis (Photo courtesy of Freepik)

AI Algorithm Integrates Cardiac Troponin Test Results with Clinical Data to Quickly Rule out Heart Attacks in Patients

The accepted standard for diagnosing myocardial infarction, or heart attack, involves assessing the blood for troponin levels. However, this approach applies the same benchmark for all patients, failing... Read more

Critical Care

view channel
Image: New technology gives patients the power to heal chronic wounds using their own blood (Photo courtesy of RedDress)

POC Solution Creates In Vitro Blood Clots from Patient’s Own Whole Blood in Real-Time to Treat Post-Surgical Wounds

Blood clots are a natural mechanism of the body's healing process. However, for chronic wounds resulting from diabetes and other conditions, blood is unable to reach these areas, hampering the initiation... Read more

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: The deployable electrodes are ideal for minimally invasive craniosurgery (Photo courtesy of EPFL)

Soft Robotic Electrode Offers Minimally Invasive Solution for Craniosurgery

Minimally invasive medical procedures offer numerous benefits to patients, including decreased tissue damage and shorter recovery periods. However, creating equipment that can pass through a small opening... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: IntelliSep is the first FDA-cleared diagnostic tool to assess cellular host response to aid in identifying ED patients with sepsis (Photo courtesy of Cytovale)

Rapid Microfluidic Test Demonstrates Efficacy as Diagnostic Aid to Improve Sepsis Triage in ED

Sepsis is the primary cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for over 350,000 fatalities annually in the United States alone, a figure that surpasses deaths from opioid overdoses, prostate cancer, and... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2023 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.