History
Purpose of the International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative
The IMBCI is both educational and instrumental in purpose.
Educational purpose
Its educational purpose is to call global attention to the importance of the quality of the mother's birth experience and its impact on the outcome, whilst also drawing attention to the scientific evidence showing the benefits of MotherBaby-centered care based on the normal physiology of pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding and on attention to women's individual needs.
Instrumental purpose
The instrumental purpose of the IMBCI 10 Steps is to raise worldwide awareness and encourage the practice of the MotherBaby model of care. A woman-centered, non-interventionist approach that promotes the health and well-being of all women and babies during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. Setting the gold standard for excellence and superior outcomes in maternity care.
Women’s rights and the IMBCI 10 steps
The IMBCI acknowledges that women's rights are human rights and that women have a right to informed decision-making and to receive care that is evidence-based for themselves and their babies. The IMBCI recognizes the effects of birth practices on maternal self-confidence and breastfeeding, and the importance of cultural sensitivity and continuity of care. These basic principles, along with the IMBCI 10 Steps, have the ability to transform birth and breastfeeding practices around the world. With infant and maternal mortality and morbidity at distressing rates, the IMBCI is a call to action that will help achieve the Millennium Development Goals to improve the quality of care for mothers and babies of the world. .
Educational purpose
Its educational purpose is to call global attention to the importance of the quality of the mother's birth experience and its impact on the outcome, whilst also drawing attention to the scientific evidence showing the benefits of MotherBaby-centered care based on the normal physiology of pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding and on attention to women's individual needs.
Instrumental purpose
The instrumental purpose of the IMBCI 10 Steps is to raise worldwide awareness and encourage the practice of the MotherBaby model of care. A woman-centered, non-interventionist approach that promotes the health and well-being of all women and babies during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. Setting the gold standard for excellence and superior outcomes in maternity care.
Women’s rights and the IMBCI 10 steps
The IMBCI acknowledges that women's rights are human rights and that women have a right to informed decision-making and to receive care that is evidence-based for themselves and their babies. The IMBCI recognizes the effects of birth practices on maternal self-confidence and breastfeeding, and the importance of cultural sensitivity and continuity of care. These basic principles, along with the IMBCI 10 Steps, have the ability to transform birth and breastfeeding practices around the world. With infant and maternal mortality and morbidity at distressing rates, the IMBCI is a call to action that will help achieve the Millennium Development Goals to improve the quality of care for mothers and babies of the world. .
In 1996 the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services ratified the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative (MFCI): 10 Steps to Mother-Friendly Hospitals, Birth Centers, and Home Birth Services for the U.S. In subsequent years, CIMS received many requests from individual groups in various countries to help them create their own initiatives, and then began receiving an increasing number of requests to create a global initiative, especially from representatives of various birth-related organizations who began attending the CIMS conferences in the U.S.
In response, in 2002 CIMS created an International Committee, which subsequently received a grant in 2005 to develop an international initiative. Childbirth Connection, a recognized leader in maternity care quality improvement, was instrumental in supporting the project. The CIMS International Committee created a network of regional and country representatives, who identified contact information for hundreds of international maternity and breastfeeding organizations in 163 countries, including grassroots consumer groups, health-care professionals, government organizations, and nongovernmental agencies around the world, generating the world's largest international database on maternity and breastfeeding organizations.
In response, in 2002 CIMS created an International Committee, which subsequently received a grant in 2005 to develop an international initiative. Childbirth Connection, a recognized leader in maternity care quality improvement, was instrumental in supporting the project. The CIMS International Committee created a network of regional and country representatives, who identified contact information for hundreds of international maternity and breastfeeding organizations in 163 countries, including grassroots consumer groups, health-care professionals, government organizations, and nongovernmental agencies around the world, generating the world's largest international database on maternity and breastfeeding organizations.