The USA approach to maternity care

Abstract

This article provides an account of maternity services in a university hospital in the USA, covering pregnancy, labour and delivery and follow-up care. Obstetricians are the main care providers, although midwifery care is also available. Obstetric nurses give labour and postnatal support. Although this is not an account of the differences between the UK and the described USA system, the most obvious differences are highlighted, these being the variety of practice and the numbers of personnel involved at the delivery. Resources available to both staff and users of the service are substantial, and if midwives are contemplating gaining experience overseas the author highly recommends working within the USA health system.

Midwives in the UK: An Exploratory Study of Providing Newborn Feeding Support for Postpartum Mothers in the Hospital

“…Although it is suggested that only 4% of mothers in the US who commence breastfeeding at birth discontinue in the first week, 39 it is likely that these results may be applicable to the situation in US hospitals. Research suggests that routines similar to those described in this study are also practised in US hospitals by “street‐level bureaucrats” (usually registered nurses 40 ) caring for postpartum mothers and their newborn. The practice of giving formula to newborns who are being breastfed is widespread 34,41,42 .…”