Redtooth - Ina May's stats really aren't that exceptional for a low risk, healthy population of young mothers.
And you have to remember that women who have case loading care (which is what Ina May provides) really do have better outcomes than women who have the normal type of NHS midwifery care.
There was a study on outcomes associated with independent midwifery care in the UK a few years ago. 77.9% of women in the study who had independent midwifery care had a completely normal delivery, despite the fact that 21% had previous obstetric complications (including c/s) and 3.1% were carrying twins. When high risk cases were excluded, the neonatal outcomes were similar to those found in low risk women having NHS midwifery care.
Redtoothbrush - my concern about C&W is why they have a 33% c/s rate, whereas nearby St Georges in Tooting, which is also serving a high risk population (it's only about 3 miles from C&W) has a 26% c/s rate. St Georges attracts a lot of high risk cases because of its top notch neonatal unit.
I don't honestly think it's that complicated. We know what patterns of care and what features are associated with an increase in the normal birth rate:
- case-loading midwifery care
- one to one care in labour
- consultant input when a labour becomes complicated
- a healthy BMI at booking
- maternal age under 30
and there's a growing body of evidence suggesting that doula care in labour is associated with a significant raising of the likelihood of a normal birth.
If I was a first time mum thinking about where and how to have my baby, I'd be looking at this information on BirthChoice UK (which comes from the Quality Care Commission Survey) -
- 'how many midwives looked after you in labour?',
- 'Did you get the pain relief you wanted?',
- 'Were you (and/or your husband, partner or a companion) left alone by midwives or doctors at a time when it worried you?',
- 'Were you treated with respect and kindness?'
- 'Overall, thinking about your care during labour and birth, were you involved enough in decisions about your care?'
And maybe look at the number of births per midwife at the hospitals you can choose from and compare them to the number suggested by the RCM which allows for 'optimal' care.
Really - it amazes me that people aren't more interested in this type of information. Some of the information on BirthChoice UK is absolutely MIND BOGGLING!
- Some hospitals have episiotomy rates which are DOUBLE that of other hospitals (Ealing Hospital 40%, West Suffolk, 14%),
- What about birth positions? 44% of women giving birth at Barts in London give birth with their legs in stirrups, compared to only 14% at Kings in London!
I mean, seriously, WTF is going on here?