EBB 389 - The Global Impact of Midwifery with Stephanie Marriott, Midwife Advisor for the International Confederation of Midwives

Some of the most effective solutions for improving birth outcomes worldwide are rooted in relationships, not technology. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker speaks with midwife Stephanie Marriott of the International Confederation of Midwives about the global impact of midwifery care. She outlines what defines a midwifery model of care, why continuity of midwife-led care matters for both outcomes and experiences, and how trust and relationship-based care can influence Cesarean rates, trauma-informed care, and access to services.

Stephanie draws on her work across the U.K., Asia, and Africa to share how countries such as Indonesia and Bangladesh are strengthening midwifery education, regulation, and deployment, and what that means for maternal and newborn health. Together, Stephanie and Rebecca also discuss the essential role midwives play in humanitarian and disaster settings, the global shortage of midwives, and the growing call for One Million More midwives worldwide.

(04:58) What is a midwifery model of care?
(08:00) Why relationships are central to better birth outcomes
(10:27) Time, workload, and sustainability for midwives
(12:20) Trust, disclosure, and safety during pregnancy
(13:01) How continuity of care shapes labor and birth experiences
(16:48) What is the International Confederation of Midwives?
(22:05) Strengthening midwifery education worldwide
(28:13) Rebuilding midwifery education where it was lost
(34:53) Rising cesarean rates and the role of midwives
(39:26) Why midwives are essential in humanitarian settings
(42:35) The global shortage of midwives

Resources

Learn more about the International Confederation of Midwives: internationalmidwives.org

Support the One Million More campaign: millionmore.org

Explore UNFPA's work supporting sexual and reproductive health, maternal health, and midwifery systems: unfpa.org

For more information about Evidence Based Birth® and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.