Changing childbirth: who should be the lead professional?

Abstract

This paper discusses data drawn from a national survey of midwives, obstetricians, and GPs on the implementation of Changing Childbirth, the 1993 government report aiming to make maternity care more woman-centred. Although the study showed broad agreement in some areas, there was disagreement on whether the midwife should be the lead professional for low risk women, some role overlap, and doubts expressed about the effect of the policy change on teamwork. Changing Childbirth is an example of how policy change can cause interprofessional rivalries to surface.

Key Words:

• Changing Childbirth
• midwifery
• obstetricians
• GPs
• risk
• maternity care
• autonomy roles