Utilizing Midwifery-Led Care Units (MLCU) for Enhanced Maternal and Newborn Health in India: An Evidence-Based Review

The allocation of the midwife-led care unit (MLCU), a midwifery-led care model in which midwives carry out eminent roles to enrich maternal and newborn outcomes with minimal standard interventions, has appeared to be productive in furthering the quality of care and positive childbirth experiences. In the present article, we review the investments needed in MLCUs for their inclusion into the public health system by describing their advantages, the latest trends in maternal mortality, the roles of midwives, the relevant background, and the current advances in midwifery practices in India. Midwifery-led care is directed by a philosophy that considers pregnancy and childbirth as normal physiological events for women. Making use of a midwife, especially in low-risk pregnancies, extends satisfactory and cost-effective care. The Government of India has begun to introduce midwifery services to the country to improve the quality, righteousness, and worthiness in the provision of care and to offload higher-level hospitals. The year 2020 was designated as the "Year of the Nurse and the Midwife" by the WHO, highlighting the importance of nurses' and midwives' roles in sustaining quality health care. Further, the acceptability among clinicians and the public is crucial for the future advancement and implementation of MLCUs in India.