Midwifery-led care during labor and delivery in numbers
The 2022 Annual Report on Midwifery-Led Care offers a comprehensive overview of the state of midwifery practices across Belgium, highlighting the contributions of 29 midwifery practices and 112 independent midwives predominantly serving in Flanders, but also extending their services to Brussels and Wallonia. This report meticulously documents the progression of 1,463 labours that commenced in primary care settings, with a planned completion in the same environment under the careful supervision of midwives. Notably, midwife-led births constituted 1.56% of all births in Flanders and Brussels, amounting to 1,300 out of 83,135 births, and 1.25% across Belgium, with a total of 1,463 out of 116,704 births in 2022.
This report delves into the operational aspects of midwifery-led care, revealing that 1,185 of these births were autonomously conducted by midwives. The breakdown includes 619 home births, 147 in extramural birth centers, and notable in-hospital assistance by midwives at both obstetric units and alongside midwifery-led units. Additionally, the report addresses the critical transitions involving 278 intrapartum referrals to hospitals due to medical needs, underscoring the essential role of midwives in bridging primary and hospital care. This extensive review serves not only as a testament to the dedication and expertise of midwives but also as a beacon for the ongoing enhancement of maternal and neonatal health care in Belgium.
Click here to read the “Annual Report on Midwifery-led Care during Labor and Delivery in Numbers: 2022”.
