Creating Positive Relationships with OBs and Hospitals

Midwife collaboration with obstetricians and hospitals is essential for the advancement of integrated, respectful maternity care. At Buckeye Birth Coalition, we believe strong professional relationships across birth settings are key to ensuring every family receives the support they need.

But how do we build these relationships? And how can we foster mutual respect in a system that has historically undervalued midwifery?

Here are some guiding principles for developing strong partnerships with OBs and hospitals:

Lead with Respect and a Shared Goal

The foundation of any good relationship is mutual respect. While midwives and obstetricians may come from different models of care, we all share a common goal: healthy mothers and babies.

Begin by recognizing and appreciating the expertise OBs bring to high-risk and surgical care, and be confident in the value midwifery brings to physiological birth. Frame conversations around shared goals, such as reducing unnecessary interventions, improving outcomes, or streamlining transfers of care.

When we start from a place of professional respect, we lay the groundwork for trust.

Establish Clear and Courteous Transfer Protocols

One of the most practical—and relationship-defining—areas for collaboration is the transfer of care from home or birth center to hospital.

While we are currently working with Senate Bill 140 to allow birth centers to operate without a transfer agreement, we still want to maintain excellent relationships with hospitals to keep a relationship of trust between providers. A clear written transport protocol keeps communication timely and handoffs smooth and respectful. 

Show Up to Hospital and Community Events

Relationship-building doesn't happen only during emergencies—it happens in everyday professional interactions. Attend hospital staff meetings when invited. Join perinatal task forces or quality improvement groups. Show your presence in the community.

When OBs and hospital staff see midwives as colleagues—not competitors—it opens doors for dialogue and collaboration.

Create Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Education

Offer to co-host or speak at workshops, grand rounds, or CEU events. Topics like respectful transport, supporting physiologic birth, or understanding midwifery care models can spark important conversations and reduce misunderstandings.

Equally, be willing to learn from your OB colleagues. When both sides engage in shared learning, we build empathy and improve care systems together.

Be Proactive in Conflict Resolution

Tensions sometimes arise—whether over scope of practice, philosophical differences, or communication breakdowns. The key is to address them directly, respectfully, and proactively.

Don’t let resentment fester. Seek out honest dialogue and, when needed, involve neutral facilitators or professional mediators. Transparency and good faith efforts go a long way toward repairing trust.

Advocate Together for Better Maternity Care

Some of the strongest OB-midwife alliances are created through advocacy. Whether it’s pushing for Medicaid reimbursement reform, expanding access to community birth, or addressing racial disparities in maternal health—these are issues we can tackle side by side.

When midwives and obstetricians unite for positive change, we model what collaborative maternity care can look like.