Comparison of instrumental vaginal births by assisted birth practitioner midwives and medical practitioners

The role of the assisted birth practitioner (ABP) midwife is extending the traditional scope of midwifery practice to include instrumental vaginal births. A retrospective cohort study was carried out to examine the 6 months immediately after the introduction of ABP midwives into the middle-grade tier of a medical practitioner rota. Maternal and neonatal outcomes of births by ABP midwives were compared to those by medical practitioner. The results were analysed with a combination of independent (P<0.05), Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests as appropriate. Qualitative data were also collected. Of 57 instrumental vaginal births, 14 were performed by ABP midwives (25%) and 43 by medical practitioners (75%). Baseline demographic characteristics between the two groups were similar. There were no significant differences in maternal outcomes or in neonatal outcomes. Qualitative data were also very positive. These results provide reassurance to both service users and providers. ABP midwives are able to offer a val...