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 From the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives NACPM Contact: Mary Lawlor, President (802) 387-4678 lawcing@sover.net June 17, 2005 Landmark Study Reports Planned Home Births Are Safe "Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America." Kenneth C Johnson, senior epidemiologist, Betty-Anne Daviss, project manager. BMJ 2005;330:1416 (18 June). Published online at http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/330/7505/1416?ehom A study published in the June 18 edition of the British Medical Journal finds that when Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) are the maternity care providers for low-risk women having planned home births, that these births are as safe as hospital births. The study also demonstrates that these women in the care of CPMs experience significantly lower rates of medical intervention than their counterparts having hospital births, as well as a much lower rate of birth by cesarean section. This study is the largest yet of its kind. The researchers used prospective data on more than 5000 planned home births in North America attended by Certified Professional Midwives during the year 2000. The researchers analyzed outcomes and medical interventions for planned home births, including transports to hospital care. According to the British Medical Journal press release, they found: Planned homebirths "had a low mortality rate during labor and delivery, similar to [rates] found in most studies of low risk hospital births in North America." "Rates of medical intervention, such as epidural, forceps and cesarean section, were lower for planned home births than for low risk hospital births." "A high degree of safety and maternal satisfaction were reported, and over 87% of mothers and babies did not require transfer to hospital" care. The National Association of Certified Professional Midwives welcomes the publication of this study that demonstrates the safe and effective care delivered by Certified Professional Midwives. The practice of midwifery was nearly eradicated in North America in the early part of the last century. Independent midwifery began to reemerge in the 1970's and has made rapid progress in development over the last three decades. A national certification, the Certified Professional Midwife, was developed for independent midwives in the United States in the mid-1990's as a way to demonstrate the competency of the members of this emerging profession. The North American Registry of Midwives administers this certification. In 2005, the 1000th CPM was certified. This comprehensive study effectively demonstrates the safety of choosing a Certified Professional Midwife for one's maternity care provider. It also suggests that low-risk women may be being subjected to an overuse of medical intervention in the hospital that is not necessary for good outcomes. It shows that evidence-based practice would include the use of Certified Professional Midwives as primary care providers to low-risk women and suggests the benefits that would accrue to these women and their babies if Certified Professional Midwives were fully integrated into the health care system in the United States. For more information, contact the authors: Kenneth Johnson, Senior Epidemiologist, Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Canada Tel: +1 613 957 0339 To arrange an interview, please call Aggie Adamczyk: +1 613 941 8189 (Public Health Agency media contact) Email: ken_lcdc_johnson@phac-aspc.gc.ca Betty-Anne Daviss, Project Manager, FIGO Safe Motherhood/Newborn Initiative, Housed at The Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Canada, 780 Echo Drive, Ottowa, Canada tel: +1 800 561 2416 OR +1 613 730 4192 Ext. 263 Email: badaviss@sogc.com For more information about the Certified Professional Midwife credential, contact: Debbie Pulley, Public Education and Advocacy North American Registry of Midwives 1-888-842-4784 info@narm.org For more information about midwifery education leading to the Certified Professional Midwife credential, contact: Mary Ann Baul, Executive Director Midwifery Education Accreditation Council 1-928-214-0997 Info@meacschools.org For more information about midwives and homebirth from a consumer perspective, contact: Susan Hodges, President Citizens for Midwifery (706) 549-7023 susan@cfmidwifery.org Site maintained by Carry Mattern Have a question or concern about the site? Email Webmistress |