Intrapartum Care Working Patterns of Midwives: The Long Road to Models of Care in Germany

Abstract

Introduction: Midwifery models of care help to enhance perinatal health outcomes, women's satisfaction, and continuity of care. Despite the ubiquitous presence of certified midwives at births in Germany, no research has investigated the diversity of midwives' practice patterns. Describing the variety of working patterns through which midwives provide intrapartum care may contribute to improving the organisation of midwifery services.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey took place in the region of Hannover and Hildesheim, Germany. Midwives attending births and practicing in hospitals and/or out-of-hospital were able to participate. Midwives who did not attend births were excluded. We assessed midwives' scope of services, practice locations, employment patterns, continuity of care, midwife-led births, and midwives' level of agreement with core values of midwifery care. The response rate of the survey was 32.7 % (69/211).

Results: We found that midwifery care services can be described according to midwives' employment patterns. The majority of midwives were employed in a hospital to provide intrapartum care (74.2 %, n = 49), and most also independently offered one or more antenatal and/or postpartum service/s. Only 25.8 % (n = 17) of midwives offered their services independently (laborist model of care). Independent midwives attended births in all three possible settings: hospital, free-standing birth centres and home. Significantly more independent midwives than employed midwives offered antenatal care and lactation consulting. Compared to employed midwives, significantly more independent midwives provided antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care to the same women, were more likely to know women before labour, and to offer one-to-one care during labour.

Discussion: The most common practice pattern among surveyed midwives was 'employment in a hospital' for provision of intrapartum care with additional postpartum and few antenatal services provided on an independent basis. Midwives who worked solely independently reported more continuity and one-to-one intrapartum care with women. Most midwives did not work in patterns that offered continuity of care or consistently provide one-to-one care. Future research should assess whether women in Germany desire more services similar to caseload midwifery.