Midwifery Research

What is evidenced-based research?

Certified Professional Midwives provide care that is based in the tenets of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP). EBP is the integration of clinical expertise, patient values, and the best research evidence into the decision making process for patient care. Clinical expertise refers to the clinician’s cumulated experience, education and clinical skills. The patient brings to the encounter his or her own personal and unique concerns, expectations, and values. The best evidence is usually found in clinically relevant research that has been conducted using sound methodology. (Sackett D, 2002)

Midwives must avail themselves of the best research evidence related to their practice standards and decision making information for their clients as they support women through the childbearing process. A comprehensive resource for evidence-based research in maternity care can be found at Childbirth Connection.

Evidence-based research citations related to midwifery care and out of hospital birth:

• Bovbjerg, ML, Cheyney, M, Brown, J, Cox, KJ, Leeman, L. Perspectives on risk: Assessment of risk profiles and outcomes among women planning community birth in the United States. Birth. 2017; 44: 209? 221.
• Nethery, E, Gordon, W, Bovbjerg, ML, Cheyney, M. Rural community birth: Maternal and neonatal outcomes for planned community births among rural women in the United States, 2004?2009. Birth. 2018; 45: 120? 129.
• Cheyney, M. , Bovbjerg, M. , Everson, C. , Gordon, W. , Hannibal, D. and Vedam, S. (2014), Development and Validation of a National Data Registry for Midwife?Led Births: The Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project 2.0 Dataset. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 59: 8-16.
• Cheyney M, Bovbjerg M, Everson C, Gordon W, Hannibal D, & Vedam S. Outcomes of care for 16,984 planned home births in the United States: The Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project, 2004-2009. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, Volume 59, Issue 1, pages 17–27, January/February 2014
• Cheyney M, Bovbjerg M, Everson C, Gordon W, Hannibal D, & Vedam S. Development and validation of a national data registry for midwife-led births: The Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project 2.0 dataset. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, Volume 59, Issue 1, pages 8–16, January/February 2014
• Kenneth C Johnson, Betty-Anne Daviss. Outcomes of Planned Home Births with Certified Professional Midwives: Large Prospective Study in North America. BMJ 2005;330:1416 (18 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7505.1416
• Janssen PA, Saxell L, Page LA, Klein MC, Liston RM, Lee SK. Outcomes of planned home birth with registered midwife versus planned hospital birth with midwife or physician. CMAJ 2009; 181(6-7):377-383.
• Hutton EK, Reitsma AH, Kaufman K. Outcomes associated with planned home and planned hospital births in low-risk women attended by midwives in Ontario, Canada, 2003-2006: a retrospective cohort study. Birth 2009; 36(3):180-189.
• de Jonge A., van der Goes BY, Ravelli AC, melink-Verburg MP, Mol BW, Nijhuis JG et al. Perinatal mortality and morbidity in a nationwide cohort of 529,688 low-risk planned home and hospital births. BJOG 2009; 116(9):1177-1184.