Relationships - the glue that holds it all together : midwifery continuity of care

In late December 2009, four midwifery leaders sat around a kitchen table in Sydney and audio-recorded a conversation about experiences of developing midwifery models of care. With this chapter in mind, we focussed on what we saw as features of sustainable models that enable women to develop a trusting relationship with their midwives through pregnancy, labour and the early weeks of new motherhood. An analysis of the transcript of our conversation enabled us to identify several themes that emerged within an overarching theme that relationships are the most crucial elements of sustainability - relationships with women, between midwives who work together and supportive relationships within the maternity care system. We also identified some features of midwifery group practices that enhance the potential for these relationships to flourish. This chapter addresses these themes using direct quotes to preserve the flavour of the conversation with the hope that this will stimulate readers to engage in similar discussions and make comparisons with their own experiences and intentions.