The United States is the worst country in the world developed to give birth. Women suffer a great medical intervention during childbirth, the cesarean sections are very high and the maternal death rate is the highest in the western world.
A new study carried out by two American universities has focused on the figure of the midwife as an effective measure to counteract, to a large extent, these terrible figures. But in that country Only 9% of births are attended by midwives.
It advocates giving midwives more autonomy
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts and the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota have been working for a whole year at 126 hospitals in New York, studying low-risk deliveries and the rate of complications during the same, according to four main criteria:
Induction
Caesarean section
Episiotomy
Maternal mortality due to complications after childbirth
The study carried out by both universities has revealed that births attended by midwives have fewer complications than those controlled by doctors; specifically it has been seen that they require less episiotomies and emergency caesarean sections.
Of the 126 hospitals studied, 25% did not have midwives. 50% did have this figure among their workforce, but only 15% attended deliveries. Only 9% of hospitals had midwives who attended more than 40% of deliveries.
And it was in this group of women attended by midwives where less episiotomies, interventions, caesarean sections and, in general, better perinatal care were observed."This study shows that there is a relationship between women with better results in childbirth and less use of medical procedures. Caesarean sections and medical intervention are increasing, and in general this does not provide better results for the mother and the baby." - explains Laura Attanasio, one of those responsible for the study by the University of Massachusetts.
After the data obtained, several US states are beginning to incorporate more midwives into their hospital staff. But compared to other Western countries such as Australia, France or the United Kingdom where 66% of deliveries are attended by midwives, there is still a long way to go in the United States.
"From a political perspective, this study should encourage legislators and regulators to include more midwives in hospitals so that they can attend low-risk deliveries" - notes Katy Kozhimannnil, another of those responsible for the study by the School of Health Public of the University of Minnesota.
Midwife or gynecologist?
As we have commented several times, the ideal is that a low-risk birth be attended by a midwife since the complications are minor and there is less risk of ending in premature delivery. Likewise, it has been seen that in the deliveries attended by midwives the use of analgesia, episiotomy or instrumental births is reduced.
This recommendation disappears at the moment when a birth is considered risky, at which point obstetric care becomes necessary and useful.Many hospitals are already adopting this work philosophy. Without going any further, a few months ago we told you that Catalonia has launched a 2016-2020 Generalitat Health Plan, creating seven midwifes managed by midwives.
In short, the midwife plays a fundamental role as it provides assistance and emotional support to the woman who will give birth during pregnancy, at the time of delivery, and also in the puerperium.
IStock photos
Via mothering
In Babies and More International Midwife Day, a fundamental support during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, The most incredible hospital birth I have ever seen: your baby brings five laps of cord and not even help him, The role of Midwife in childbirth is very important, how has your experience been ?, The midwife: the best option of care for pregnant women, In a hospital in the United Kingdom they stopped telling women when they should bid on delivery and the results are Amazing, Pregnancies attended by midwives have less risk of ending preterm birth, Types of episiotomy
