In plain words
Continuity of carer means the same provider, or a small known group of providers, cares for a mother from pregnancy through birth and after. The mother builds a relationship with them, and they know her history. Some systems use this model, and it is often offered by midwives. Continuity is different from having a single doctor in a clinic who may be on call for others. In practice, a mother may see a team of two to four people who know her well. Continuity of carer is one of the parts of a birth team that research has studied most closely. Your provider can tell you whether this model is offered where you plan to give birth.
The deeper version
Continuity of carer is a care delivery model in which a known or small team provides antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care. The Cochrane review of midwifery continuity models (Sandall and colleagues, 2016) found that continuity was associated with fewer preterm births and less intrapartum intervention, with no increase in adverse outcomes, and with higher maternal satisfaction. Implementation is limited by workforce, staffing patterns, and insurance structures. The main controversy concerns whether the benefits are driven by the continuity itself or by the midwifery model and its norms of practice.
Where it comes up
What mothers here say about continuity of carer
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Sources
- Sandall J et al. — Midwife-led continuity models versus other models of care for childbearing women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016
- American College of Nurse-Midwives — Continuity of care in midwifery practice: position statement