Midwife-Led Birth Centres

Beth Lang is a midwife at the Santa Barbara Birth Centre, an independent group midwifery practice that offers sexual and reproductive healthcare services, as well as pregnancy, birth and postnatal care to families in the community. She shares her insights on what her typical day looks like.

The Santa Barbara Birth Centre blends midwifery care, community connection, and advocacy—proving that with compassion and collaboration, birth can be both personal and powerful, even in times of crisis.

This Policy Brief outlines the key findings of ICM's MLBC study, presents the Pathway to Change which highlights the processes and mechanisms needed to scale up MLBCs and provides a series of actions to support successful implementation of MLBCs.

Tace Stevens' photography captures the genuine care and support Indigenous midwives provide to their communities, highlighting the importance of culturally safe, holistic maternal and reproductive healthcare in Australia.

The midwifery profession, as defined by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), is new in India. India, like many countries is moving towards embedding midwifery into its health system as a way to improve sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health outcomes.