About this episode

Dr. Rebecca Dekker interviews midwife Stephanie Marriott about the global impact of midwifery care and its importance in improving birth outcomes.

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…

People in this episode

Host: Rebecca Dekker

Guest: Stephanie Marriott

Topics covered

• midwifery care
• birth outcomes
• continuity of care
• maternal health
• global midwifery education
• humanitarian settings

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: International Confederation of Midwives

Places: U.K., Asia, Africa, Indonesia, Bangladesh

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