10/30/2025
An open source, free article published in Women & Birth (July ‘25) by a Swiss research team describe how to address and improve collaboration of midwives and obstetricians in birth settings.
“The study included 11 midwives and 9 obstetricians. Three strategies with seven categories emerged that might enhance collaboration between midwives and obstetricians on Swiss labour wards: (1) getting to know each other, (2) building trustful relationships, and (3) creating safe practice environments for collaborative practice.”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871519225000630
2 KEY conclusions noted that look for when working with midwife practice groups and hospitals include presence of:
1. A strong organizational understanding and commitment to embed the concept of midwife/physician collaboration in practice. WHAT is the working definition of collaboration within the entire care team?
2. Leadership that models inclusive behaviors and reduces perceived hierarchies across the organization. WHO is at the table for critical decisions and conflict resolution?
Observing recent and continuing midwife practice closures is devastating. Some are reportedly related to ‘economics’, others to conflict among provider types.
As noted in this study, “activities to improve interprofessional collaboration, such as promoting better understanding of professional roles, responsibilities, and scope of practice, investing into trust-building, open, respectful communication and shared decision-making, and fostering a supportive organisational environment for effective, interprofessional work processes and teamwork”, can create an environment of trust and side-side collegiality.
👉Being proactive by requesting opportunities to build collegiality among providers is key to sustainable practice.
