Australian midwives say more women are seeking personalised and continuity-based maternity care during pregnancy and childbirth.

This comes following the International Day of the Midwife this week, which recognises the role of midwives in supporting women in their pregnancy.

Practising midwife and PhD candidate Emily Leefhelm says modern midwifery extends beyond childbirth itself.

“Really, on a fundamental level, it’s around women’s sexual and reproductive health throughout the entire life course,” she says.

“We have an important role in supporting the birthing person through the process of developing new identities and relationships and finding support networks.

“In the postpartum period, one of the things that is really critical is that relational support.”

Ms Leefhelm says midwives also support women through mental health challenges and pregnancy loss. She says the core philosophy of midwifery is a term called ‘continuity of care’ which provides the same midwife throughout the term of a pregnancy.

Second-year Curtin University midwifery student Atiya Rohullah says emotional resilience is now a major part of midwifery training.

“Constantly caring for others through stressful, emotional and sometimes traumatic situations can lead to compassion fatigue, burnout and vicarious trauma if healthcare workers don’t look after themselves too,” she says.

Curtin University midwifery researcher Dr Lesley Kuliukas says evidence shows continuity-based models improve outcomes for both mothers and babies.”

“Continuity of care provides the woman with the same person that gets to know her really well,” she says.

She says this makes women more likely to reveal issues including family and domestic violence to their midwife who can then get appropriate help.

Dr Kuliukas says having a regular midwife can present women with the education they need to make informed choices.

“Women know what to expect, understand the stages of labour and are informed about pain relief options available to them,” she says.

She says some women are choosing private midwife practices or home birth options because they’ve had bad experiences.

“Women choose home birth because they’ve had a previous baby in a hospital and were traumatised by it,” she says.

She says this hasn’t always been the case but alternative births have risen in recent years.

Ms Leefhelm says social media discussions have also changed expectations around maternity care.

“We have a lot more women these days who are taking really important advocacy roles in affirming the right to respectful care in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.”

She says improving maternity care will require continuity-based models to move from optional programs into standard practice in traditional hospital births.

“If we’re not shooting for the absolute stars, what are we doing?”

Emily Leefhelm

Dr Kuliukas says hospitals are adopting a model in parts of maternity care called Midwifery Antenatal and Postnatal Services or MAPS, which allocates a named carer early in pregnancy.

Ms Leefhelm says healthy families and children starts with supporting women’s healthcare choices.

If you or someone you know needs support during pregnancy or early parenthood, contact Healthdirect Australia on 1800 882 436.