Are midwives in the Netherlands satisfied with their jobs? A systematic examination of satisfaction levels among hospital and primary-care midwives in the Netherlands.

Background: Job satisfaction is generally considered to be an important element of work quality and workplace relations. Little is known about levels of job satisfaction among hospital and primary-care midwives in the Netherlands. Proposed changes to the maternity care system in the Netherlands should consider how the working conditions of midwives affect their job satisfaction.

Continuity of care is an important and distinct aspect of childbirth experience: findings of a survey evaluating experienced continuity of care, experienced quality of care and women's perception of labor.

Background: To compare experienced continuity of care among women who received midwife-led versus obstetrician-led care. Secondly, to compare experienced continuity of care with a. experienced quality of care during labor and b.

Experienced job autonomy among maternity care professionals in The Netherlands.

Objective: High levels of experienced job autonomy are found to be beneficial for healthcare professionals and for the relationship with their patients. The aim of this study was to assess how maternity care professionals in the Netherlands perceive their job autonomy in the Dutch maternity care system and whether they expect a new system of integrated maternity care to affect their experienced job autonomy.

Design: A cross-sectional survey.

Opinions of maternity care professionals and other stakeholders about integration of maternity care: a qualitative study in the Netherlands.

Background: This study aims to give insight into the opinions of maternity care professionals and other stakeholders on the integration of midwife-led care and obstetrician-led care and on the facilitating and inhibiting factors for integrating maternity care.

Methods: Qualitative study using interviews and focus groups from November 2012 to February 2013 in the Netherlands. Seventeen purposively selected stakeholder representatives participated in individual semi-structured interviews and 21 in focus groups.

Opinions of professionals about integrating midwife- and obstetrician-led care in The Netherlands.

Objective: the current division between midwife-led and obstetrician-led care creates fragmentation in maternity care in the Netherlands. This study aims to gain insight into the level of consensus among maternity care professionals about facilitators and barriers related to integration of midwife-led and obstetrician-led care. Integration could result in more personal continuity of care for women who are referred during labour.

Intrapartum referral from primary to secondary care in the Netherlands: a retrospective cohort study on management of labor and outcomes.

Background: In the Dutch maternity care system, primary care midwives provide care to low-risk women and refer to obstetricians if risks or complications occur. We examined reasons for referral, management of labor, and maternal and neonatal outcomes among women who were referred during labor.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, descriptive analyses were performed on data obtained from patient records.

Opinions of maternity care professionals about integration of care during labor for "moderate risk" indications: a Delphi study in the Netherlands.

Background: The percentage of referrals during labor from primary midwife-led care to obstetrician-led care has increased over the past years in The Netherlands. Most women are referred for indications with a moderate increase in risk and are looked after by clinical midwives. This study aims to provide insight into the opinions of maternity care professionals about integration of care and involvement of primary care midwives in the intrapartum care of women with "moderate risk" factors.

'Twin2twin' an innovative method of empowering midwives to strengthen their professional midwifery organisations.

Background: midwives need professional support from a national midwifery organisation to be able to provide the services that are by regulatory mechanisms and accreditation expected of them. Not all midwives in the world are united in a professional organisation. The aim of this project was to strengthen the midwifery organisations of Sierra Leone and the Netherlands.