BACKGROUND:
Patient-reported outcome and experience measures (PROMs and PREMs) are essential for evaluating the quality and woman-centredness of maternity care. Although midwife-led models are internationally recognised for improving maternal satisfaction and confidence, their implementation in Lithuania remains limited due to systemic constraints on midwives’ autonomy.

OBJECTIVES:
To compare birth experience, mother-infant bonding, and breastfeeding self-efficacy among women who received intrapartum care from midwives versus obstetrician-gynecologists.

METHODS:
A longitudinal study included 349 postpartum women. PROMs and PREMs were assessed on day 3 and at 6–8 weeks postpartum using validated instruments: the Birth Satisfaction Scale – Revised (BSS-R), the Mother-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS), and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale – Short Form (BSES-SF). Participants were grouped based on intrapartum care providers: midwife (n=180) or obstetrician (n=169). Data was analysed using Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests.

RESULTS:
Obstetrician-led care was associated with higher scores in perceived birth satisfaction (mean 13.72 ± 1.9 vs. 12.21 ± 3.4; p=0.002). In the second postpartum stage (6–8 weeks), women who received obstetrician-led care reported greater breastfeeding self-efficacy in specific items, such as “ensuring proper latch” (4.03 ± 1.1 vs. 3.45 ± 1.4; p=0.004) and “managing feeding challenges” (4.09 ± 1.1 vs. 3.58 ± 1.5; p=0.027), although total BSES-SF scores did not differ significantly (p=0.186). No significant group differences were observed in overall mother-infant bonding scores (MIBS).

CONCLUSIONS:
Although some indicators appeared more favorable among obstetrician-led care recipients, this may reflect system-level constraints on midwives’ scope of practice rather than differences in provider effectiveness. Strengthening midwife-led care models is essential for enabling midwives to deliver their full potential in supporting woman-centred maternity care.

KEY MESSAGE:
Despite systemic limitations, midwife-led intrapartum care in Lithuania showed comparable outcomes in postpartum well-being. Patient-reported measures highlight the potential of midwives to provide quality, woman-centred care and support the case for expanding their role in maternity services. Poster session 2 (Group A)