Dear Dia (and others),
Something else that can account for the infant mortality rate
difference between babies delivered by midwives vs. MD's may be that in
order to have a midwife deliver you, you must be low risk. MD's don't
have that luxury. MD's also deliver the women who go into premature
labor, which may account for the birth weight average differences.
Your synopsis of the article didn't happen to mention whether the
study took these factors into account.
Margie Forrest, RN, BSN, IBCLC (who isn't really known for defending
doctors...)