Who's afraid of working as a continuity of carer midwife?

摘要

Midwifery continuity of carer (MCoCr) dominates conversations around midwifery. We are told that women want it, evidence supports it and policy is telling us to get on with it. Yet for many midwives, the introduction of MCoCr is an unwelcome pressure on an already over-stretched service. Many midwives may be afraid about what the future will bring when this model of care is imposed on them. While appreciating that barriers to change may lie ahead, this paper encourages us to view these changes as a step towards actualising a model of care that is more aligned with midwifery core values; it is argued that this way of working may afford greater joy in midwifery practice. The emphasis on flexibility, generosity, working together, self-determination and a focus on self-care is crucial. All stakeholders' voices must be recognised as having equal value and local practice change needs to be able to find bespoke solutions for implementing successful MCoCr in a region. One size certainly does not fit all.