Abstract
Background
All women require access to quality maternity care. Continuity of midwifery care can
enhance women’s experiences of childbearing and is associated with positive outcomes
for women and infants. Much research on these models has been conducted with women
with uncomplicated pregnancies; less is known about outcomes for women with complexities.
Aim
To explore the outcomes and experiences for women with complex pregnancies receiving
midwifery continuity of care in Australia.
Methods
This integrative review used Whittemore and Knafl’s approach. Authors searched five
electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and MAG Online) and
assessed the quality of relevant studies using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme
(CASP) appraisal tools.
Findings
Fourteen studies including women with different levels of obstetric risk were identified.
However, only three reported outcomes separately for women categorised as either moderate
or high risk. Perinatal outcomes reported included mode of birth, intervention rates,
blood loss, perineal trauma, preterm birth, admission to special care and breastfeeding
rates. Findings were synthesised into three themes: ‘Contributing to safe processes
and outcomes’, ‘Building relational trust’, and ‘Collaborating and communicating’.
This review demonstrated that women with complexities in midwifery continuity of care
models had positive experiences and outcomes, consistent with findings about low risk
women.
Discussion
The nascency of the research on midwifery continuity of care for women with complex
pregnancies in Australia is limited, reflecting the relative dearth of these models
in practice.
Conclusion
Despite favourable findings, further research on outcomes for women of all risk is
needed to support the expansion of midwifery continuity of care.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 19, 2022
Accepted:
July 11,
2022
Received in revised form:
June 29,
2022
Received:
May 8,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
