Midwives the delivery choice for growing number of Queensland mums.

By Stephanie Smail.

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of Queensland women choosing midwives to manage the birth of their babies, despite doctors’ concerns the practice puts patients at risk.

The midwife model of care operates in five hospitals across the state, which have all reported a rise in demand.

In 2016, 936 women, who were considered to have “low risk” pregnancies, chose to use a midwife at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH), 326 more than the previous year.

Demand at the Mackay Birth Centre, run by the local hospital and health service, nearly doubled over the same period, from 140 to 240.

The Gold Coast, Townsville and Toowoomba birth centres were also busier, with some hiring more midwives and establishing more beds in their midwife-led facilities.

Doctors have raised concerns that obstetricians were being sidelined, arguing patient care could be put at risk.

Dr Chris Zappala from the Australian Medical Association of Queensland (AMAQ) said obstetricians should be involved throughout a woman’s pregnancy.

“Why do we have a model of care where we only involve an obstetrician when the problem’s already dire or already significantly developed and they’re rescuing the situation?” he said.

Dr Zappala said recent figures show about 50 per cent of mothers considered “low-risk” need an obstetrician to intervene to help deliver their baby.

“They need to be in the room assessing mothers at critical points during their pregnancy and their labour, so as soon as they think they can add something or help, they can do so,” he said.

Why do mothers want midwife care?

Some women said getting to know their midwife and having their baby with as little medical intervention as possible was a high priority.

First time mother-to-be Meghan Pollock is due to give birth next month.

Instead of a doctor, three midwives have managed the 31-year-old’s pregnancy and will supervise her labour.

“The consistency has given me a lot of peace of mind, especially for my first baby,” she said.

“I want my baby to be healthy, for myself to have a healthy labour, and for me to go through my labour as naturally as possible.”

Demand for the RBWH’s Birth Centre had become so high, patients were chosen using a ballot system.

Christine Percy had her son James there three years ago.

“Having access to a water birth certainly helped for me,” she said.

Ms Percy said she believed women had a right to make an informed choice.

“I hope that women continue to explore all the options and find the option that’s really best for them and their family,” she said.

How does it work?

At birth centres, natural pain management, such as warm baths and aromatheraphy, are favoured over medical treatments.

At the RBWH, if pain medication is required, or complications arise, patients are transferred next door to the hospital’s birthing ward.

Janine Farquharson, the centre’s midwifery unit manager, said roughly 70 per cent of women would successfully give birth at the centre.

“About 30 per cent will go to birth suite [hospital] for different reasons,” she said.

Birth centre statistics

Right to Information figures obtained by the ABC show there were delivery complications in almost 12 per cent of births at the Royal Brisbane Hospital Birth Centre in 2014 and 2015.

Four women had emergency caesareans and two babies were stillborn during the same period.

Forty-four babies were admitted to intensive care or the special-care nursery after birth.

Acting director of obstetrics and gynaecology, Dr Lee Minuzzo, said those figures were comparable to births involving obstetricians.

“There’s unfortunately a loss level in any group whether it’s the birth centre or the birth suite — things often happen that are out of our control,” she said.

“But this is an environment that is completely surrounded by a safety net of medical officers.”

This post originally appeared on ABC News.