The ANMC Competency Standards for the Midwife (2008) value woman-centred midwifery practice and state that midwives must work in partnership with women and their families.
Using the available evidence, describe how the principles of collaboration and autonomy relate to the principles of working in partnership with women. Then critically analyse how midwives apply these principles to provide woman-centred midwifery practice.

As stated by the ANMC Competency Standards, midwives must work in partnership with women in order to achieve women-centred (WCC) care. The critical aspects of providing WCC involve firm performance of continuity of care and developing a strong, but professional midwife-women partnership. Through the implementation of these factors with the added strength of autonomy and collaboration WCC can be achieved to a great extent. However, within practice it is important to maintain evidence based practice and research for the best outcomes. This essay will examine how evidence based practice, partnered with the principles of autonomy and collaboration interconnect with the midwife-women partnership.

WCC can be described as women and families being at the heart of everything midwives do in practice. (Fraser & Cooper, 2009). In simpler terms, it can be described as ‘working with a women in whatever way she wants’ (Pairman, 2010 pg. 327) Findings have suggested the practice of WCC increase women’s satisfaction with care. (Iida, Horiuchi, & Porter, 2011) There are three aspects to WCC; choice, control and continuity. (Iida, Horiuchi & Porter, 2011) Practically, with the implementation of Primary Health Midwifery Care these aspects can be achieved in a vast majority. Studies undertaken in Japan concluded significant increase in woman satisfaction when Primary Health Midwifery Care was implemented. (Iida, Horiuchi & Porter, 2011) Thus,