EBB 389 - The Global Impact of Midwifery with Stephanie Marriott, Midwife Advisor for the International Confederation of Midwives
Evidence Based Birth®
Rebecca Dekker
4.3 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 4 March 2026
⏱️ 46 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | We're seeing the cesarian rate as high as 90%. |
| 0:03.1 | 90%. |
| 0:04.1 | The national caesarian rate was 52%. |
| 0:08.4 | So it's tripled for non-clinical indications. |
| 0:12.6 | We know from the research shows us that women and families have better outcomes. |
| 0:17.5 | If you have the same trusted person all the way through. |
| 0:22.7 | Hi, everyone. on today's podcast, |
| 0:28.3 | we're going to talk with midwife Stephanie Marriott about the global impact of midwifery care. |
| 0:36.9 | Welcome to the evidence-based birth podcast. My name is Rebecca Decker and I'm a nurse with my PhD and the founder of |
| 0:38.6 | evidence-based birth. Join me each week as we work together to get evidence-based information |
| 0:44.2 | into the hands of families and professionals around the world. As a reminder, this information is not |
| 0:50.3 | medical advice. See eBbirth.com slash disclaimer for more details. |
| 0:57.5 | Hi, everyone. |
| 0:58.5 | It's Rebecca, jumping in with a quick reminder before we get started with today's episode. |
| 1:03.1 | Did you know that we're less than two weeks away from the 26 evidence-based birth conference? |
| 1:08.7 | March is officially here, and it's one of my favorite times of the |
| 1:12.1 | year, with the spring flowers starting to bloom, warmer weather on the horizon, and two days of |
| 1:17.9 | evidence-based learning at the EBB conference on March 17 and 18. But the last chance to buy |
| 1:24.1 | your ticket is March 13. So if you want to join me, the rest of Teen |
| 1:28.4 | EBB, our amazing speakers and attendees, all from the comfort of your own home, then go to |
| 1:34.5 | eBbirth.com slash conference and get your ticket before the doors close on Friday, March 13. I can't |
| 1:41.3 | wait to see many of you there. Hi, everyone, and welcome to today's episode of |
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