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Background <p>Midwifery-Led Units (MLUs) provide woman-centred, respectful care by minimizing medical interventions and promoting positive birthing experiences. Evidence suggests integrating the midwifery model into existing healthcare systems to enhance maternal and newborn outcomes. In addition, establishing midwifery-led birthing centres will ensure respectful maternity care. In 2019, a tertiary hospital in South India established the first co-located Midwifery-Led Unit (MLU) to integrate professional midwives into the healthcare system. The aim of our study was to showcase the impact of a co-located MLU on maternal and neonatal outcomes and highlight the need for such units across the country.</p> Methods <p>A retrospective analysis was conducted from July 2019 to December 2024 to assess birth outcomes, transfer rates, and maternal birthing positions. We used descriptive statistics for analysis.</p> Results <p>Over 65&#xa0;months, 1839 women were offered care in the MLU, of which 85.5%had spontaneous vaginal births. 30% were transferred to the Obstetric Led Unit most commonly for epidural analgesia. 84.5% of mothers in MLU birthed in propped up positions, 11.8% were in left lateral positions, 2.4% were in all fours position, 0.7% were in squatting positions and 0.3% were in standing positions. 2.5% of mothers had postpartum haemorrhage. Only 2 babies needed NICU admission. There was no maternal or neonatal morbidity or mortality.</p> Conclusion <p>The MLU model is a safe, evidence-based option for low-risk pregnancies. Scaling this model across similar settings could transform maternity care by ensuring respectful, high-quality care while reducing unnecessary interventions.</p>

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Improving Birth Outcomes: The Impact of Midwifery-Led Care in a South Indian Tertiary Hospital

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月21日

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  • Jismy George,
  • Maimoona Ahmed,
  • Inderjeet Kaur

摘要

Background

Midwifery-Led Units (MLUs) provide woman-centred, respectful care by minimizing medical interventions and promoting positive birthing experiences. Evidence suggests integrating the midwifery model into existing healthcare systems to enhance maternal and newborn outcomes. In addition, establishing midwifery-led birthing centres will ensure respectful maternity care. In 2019, a tertiary hospital in South India established the first co-located Midwifery-Led Unit (MLU) to integrate professional midwives into the healthcare system. The aim of our study was to showcase the impact of a co-located MLU on maternal and neonatal outcomes and highlight the need for such units across the country.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted from July 2019 to December 2024 to assess birth outcomes, transfer rates, and maternal birthing positions. We used descriptive statistics for analysis.

Results

Over 65 months, 1839 women were offered care in the MLU, of which 85.5%had spontaneous vaginal births. 30% were transferred to the Obstetric Led Unit most commonly for epidural analgesia. 84.5% of mothers in MLU birthed in propped up positions, 11.8% were in left lateral positions, 2.4% were in all fours position, 0.7% were in squatting positions and 0.3% were in standing positions. 2.5% of mothers had postpartum haemorrhage. Only 2 babies needed NICU admission. There was no maternal or neonatal morbidity or mortality.

Conclusion

The MLU model is a safe, evidence-based option for low-risk pregnancies. Scaling this model across similar settings could transform maternity care by ensuring respectful, high-quality care while reducing unnecessary interventions.