The best outcomes at birth do happen with those things:

* Experienced (trained in birth)
* Known to the woman (stranger supporting you less likely to get better outcomes than someone known to you)
* Continuous care (not being left - someone there for you continuously)

All those three things give better results in birth. Your partner can not be all of those things, nor can an obstetrician or hospital midwife... and this is one of the first things my teacher, Rhea, taught me. It is why doulas have such great outcomes at births with their clients (we know the hugely impressive stats like 50% less c/s, less PND, less NICU admissions etc) and why studies have come out showing that doulas get better outcomes than hospital staff or family members - even mum. Its not a flippant comment. I'll post the link to the studies.

Here ya go.

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ds-164383.html

This would also be true for an independent midwife in a hospital setting or a homebirth - because they work for you not the hospital.

Doulas at Birth - What Is a Doula And Why Do So Many Women Want One?



Are these not better outcomes? Of course you're also guaranteed who you're going to get and their philosophy too. I would rather not roll the dice with something I will remember all my life, and something that may change my body (and baby) and what happened to it, all my life.
Now you are going back to raw statistics. But the deal with the HB argument is that the statistics don't take into account the differing desires of each of us. I do not want a middie in my space constantly when I birth. I want it to be just me and DH. I don't like giving birth in front of people I know... I'd feel a bit weird having a friend there, and it sounds like you have become friends with your private middie. Hubby is absolutely fantastic at knowing my needs, when I am comfortable and when I am not. When to be silent and when to speak. It really is just a horses for courses type deal and an independent middie is not the one size fits all solution.