Midwives encourage participation by family members and provide continuous support during labor and birth. Midwives trust the birth process and affirm each individual woman's ability to give birth. Midwives encourage women and their families to take an active part in their own health care. Pregnancy is an ideal time to educate mothers about nutrition, healthful birth practices, breastfeeding and infant care. Midwives practice in homes, birth centers and hospitals.
Midwives support the right of parents to choose the birthplace that best suits their needs.
Midwives worldwide have an excellent record of safety with numerous studies associating midwifery care with excellent outcomes. In five nations with the world's lowest infant mortality and lowest rates of technological intervention, midwives attend 70 percent of all births without a physician in the birth room. Midwives are recognized throughout the world as the most appropriate maternity care provider for most women. Midwifery fees are typically one-third less than fees for comparable services provided by physicians. Midwifery care saves money without sacrificing quality or safety.