Research about Continuity of Maternity Care

Care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period is often provided by multiple caregivers, many of whom work in only one of the antenatal clinic, labour ward or postnatal unit. If the same person (or small group of caregivers) is involved from pregnancy through to the postnatal period, this is known as "Continuity of Care". A review of research done on this subject ⁸ shows that women who had continuity of care from a team of midwives were:

• less likely to be admitted into hospital antenatally
  
• less likely to have drugs for pain relief during labour
  
• less likely to have their newborn baby needing resuscitation
  
• less likely to have an episiotomy, but more likely to have a perineal tear
  
• more likely to be pleased with their maternity care

The reviewers conclude that providing women with continuity of care is beneficial.

Click the "back" button on your browser to return to the previous page