Important New Research on Midwife-Led Birth Centers

The good news is out for mothers and babies, midwives and maternity care in the U.S.!  This week, the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health published the results of a landmark study from the American Association of Birth Centers:  “Outcomes of Care in Birth Centers, Demonstration of a Durable Model” by Stapleton, Osborne and Illuzi.

The excellent outcomes for the 15,574 women enrolled in this study and their infants demonstrate the essential role that midwives and birth centers play in improving birth outcomes and reducing health care costs in the U.S.  Notable findings include a 6% cesarean section rate (similar low-risk women receiving care in hospitals experience an estimated 24% rate), a 12% transport rate in labor, and very low rates of fetal and newborn deaths.

In addition, the researchers estimate that these 15,574 women receiving care by midwives in birth centers saved the system over $30 million, due to the reduced cesarean section rate and reduced facility fees.  These findings mirror the results of a Washington State cost/benefits analysis which found significant cost savings to both public and private payers due to reduced cesarean section with the care of CPMs/LMs.

This new research spanned the years from 2007 to 2010, and included 79 birth centers in 33 states, approximately one-third of the birth centers in the U.S.  80% of the providers in the study were Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM), and 14% were Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) or Licensed Midwives (LM).  In 6% of the participating birth centers, care was provided by teams of CNMS, CPMs and LMs.

The outcomes from this research are cause for celebration as they suggest that both Certified Professional Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives practicing in birth centers are providing competent, high-quality, low- intervention, cost- effective care to women and their newborns.  NACPM is deeply grateful to the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) for this important research and its promotion, to the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) for its publication and promotion, and to all of the women, midwives and birth centers who participated in the study.

Please help spread the word about this study!

On Facebook? Please help the AABC spread the word. The AABC has made shareable images you can find here or here.

Need a roundup of the key findings of the study?  Here is an article you can share online or print and bring to your local birth community.

Want to help consumers take action in support of birth centers? Help share Citizens for Midwifery’s call to action on Facebook, Twitter, or with your local community.

In celebration,