Midwives would prefer a vaginal delivery

Ninety six per cent of female midwives would opt for a vaginal delivery as their first choice of giving birth report two obstetricians in a letter in this week's BMJ. Contrary to recent reports that 31 per cent of female obstetricians would prefer a caesarian delivery, the authors report that midwives, who attend to women and their babies, before, during and after their birth are better placed to make and informed choice regarding mode of delivery.

Dr Malcolm Dickson and Dr Mark Willet, both from hospitals in the Manchester area, argue that obstetricians rarely attend uncomplicated deliveries and that this may drive some female obstetricians to opt for an elective caesarian. Midwives, however are exposed to both traumatic and uncomplicated deliveries and also deal with women who have had caesarians post-operatively, write the authors. This, they say, makes the aware of the difficulties a woman has in nursing her child after a caesarian section in contrast to women who have normal vaginal deliveries.

Dickson and Willet conclude that if an expectant mother with an uncomplicated pregnancy was aware of the fact that most midwives are strongly in favour of a vaginal delivery then this might make up her mind to aim for a vaginal birth too.

Contact:

Dr Malcolm Dickson, Specialist Registrar, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester Email:[email protected]