Do you think midwife deliveries are less safe than doctor deliveries?

[slippery_seal]

Midwives are becoming more and more popular these days. Do you think that having a delivery performed by a midwife is less safe than one performed by a doctor?

[mamafeliz]

Anyone not convinced yet that midwifery is the best practice model for term healthy Moms and Babes should read the Cochran Review related to this question at the following link: http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004667.html

Hospital Birth can be an excellent birth alternative depending on the pracitice of midwives and nurses. Hospitals in our area offer water birth and doula support routinely. I guess it is a question of research. It seems important to know C/S rate of hospital where one wants to deliver, epidural rate, nurse:pt ratio, policy on continuous vs. intermittent fetal monitoring, etc.

I had two home births. But with experienced, CNMs licensed to use pharmaceuticals if needed (Pit), start IVs, NRP certified, and with strong, supportive MD and hospital back up. We have plenty of unlicensed birth providers in our area who have devastating outcomes because of lack of skill and unwillingness to screen out high risk (VBAC, multiples, breech, PROM, mec, contraindicated medical conditions).

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I just finished reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (not pregnant, no news to share :)) and found it very interesting. People might find her a little loony but her numbers can't be argued with.