Midwifery in a family practice.

This study examined the effect on the type of maternity care given low-risk mothers in a family practice where approximately one-half of the patients were coached in labour by midwives. It was found that the same caregiver tended to make fewer obstetrical interventions with the midwife-coached patients. While the study was not methodologically rigorous, it nevertheless illustrated trends that the authors believed to be valid when midwives were involved. Future studies might document the trends more clearly and suggest areas for co-operation between family doctors and midwives.