RESULTS
The characteristics of the participants are provided in Table 1. The number of CPMs who participated was higher than in any Of the other groups because a larger number of them volunteered. The CPMs were also only With Current out-of-hospital experience, and they more often practiced alone. Most respondents practiced in urban settings; however, the CPMs were the only group who currently prac- ticed in rural, urban, and suburban areas. Most of the obstetricians had only worked in their present practice, whereas the other provider groups more often had experience in other practices.
Differences Within Provider Groups
In no group were identical lists constructed by 2 or more participants. There were no disagreements about the assessments or actions during the discussion that followed the round-robin portion of the focus group.
Assessments and Interventions
The first question concerned assessments of maternal characteristics or information that might affect management of the third stage of labor (Table 2). The midwives and physicians identified factors in maternal history, pregnancy, and the current labor. Both groups of midwives but neither physician group mentioned maternal nutrition status, blood count, presence of gestational diabetes, and red hair. Both groups of physicians but neither midwife group identified hypertension, asthma, and a bleeding disorder.
There were additional factors that both midwife groups identified as being included in the assessment but neither physician group identified. The midwives identified the skill of nursing or other staff assistance available at the birth as an assessment that might ultimately influence their management steps. The midwives noted patient preferences that would impact management: the mother’s desire for delayed cordclamping, leaving the placenta attached after it is expelled (lotus birth), placental ingestion—or as stated by a participant, other “quirky things.” Physicians identified the type of pain management in use as important; the midwives did not include this item.
In response to the question about which interventions or management steps the participant or other providers had ever used during the third stage of labor, there were a long list of similar responses between the 2 groups (Table 3). There were no interventions that the physician groups mentioned that one or the other midwife groups did not mention. There were several interventions or management steps that both midwife groups mentioned that neither physician groups mentioned. These included observation (check for signs of placental sep- aration), instructions to the mother (“release the placenta,” help her to “focus on the baby,” or encourage her to “focus on the placenta”), tasks (collect cord blood, clamp and cut the cord), spiritual guidance (pray), and transport if needed.
Always Used Interventions
There were many similarities (Table 4) across provider groups regarding what should be done. Both midwife groups— but neither physician group—identified monitoring for signs of placental separation as a key step. In contrast, both physi- cian groups identified oxytocin (Pitocin) administration as
one item that neither midwife group included that almost always should be used.