Table 1.
Key features of medical and midwifery models of childbirth
| Medical/technocratic model | Midwifery/holistic/social model |
|---|---|
| Doctor centred |
Woman centred |
| Obstetrics: experts in pathology |
Midwifery: experts in normal physiology |
| Body-mind dualism; classifying, separating |
Holistic; integrating approach |
| Pregnancy is a medical condition, inherently pathological |
Pregnancy is a normal human state, inherently healthy |
| Birth is only normal in retrospect and requires hospitalisation and medical supervision |
Birth is normal physiological, social & cultural process with environment key |
| Technology dominant |
Technology cautious |
| Risk selection is not possible, but risk is central |
Risk selection is possible & appropriate |
| Statistical/biological approach |
Individual/psycho-social approach |
| Biomedical focus |
Psycho-social focus |
| Medical knowledge is privileged & exclusionary |
Experiential & emotional knowledge valued |
| Intervention |
Observation |
| Outcome: aims at live, healthy mother and baby. | Outcome: aims at live, healthy mother and baby and satisfaction of individual needs of mother/couple. |