It is a major component of the antenatal midwifery process and fundamental to effective birth planning and the empowerment of women in childbirth. Whether a birthing experience has culminated in a natural birth at home or a Caesarian section in hospital, the woman who has had the opportunity and been supported to make her own decisions, is more likely to have felt in control of her birthing experience and to be in a position to start her mothering well. A practical guide, draws attention to a woman's 'birthing potential', that is, the realm of possibilities that could eventuate given a woman's individual circumstances. This birthing potential is dependant and interlinked with social, environmental and cultural factors as well as the physical characteristics of health. It notes that all valuable health care results from being guided by 'alerting factors' - things which may pose a problem for a woman and baby but which may not eventuate.
All maternity care needs to reflect 'best practice' principles.
Evidence drawn from across the disciplines that shows a particular form of care has proven to be beneficial needs to be incorporated into practice. That which has proven to be unbeneficial should be discarded. Midwives working in continuity of care are well placed to take an in depth look at the implications of care for the individual woman. We are also well placed to employ the use of 'thoughtful exchange' to reflect on and critique appropriate care for women and their babies based on our experience. We need to inform women of any lack of definitive answers.