Established Evidence Results

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PROVIDER/PRACTICE, Continuity of Care (Caseload), Labor Support, POPULATION-BASED SYSTEMS, STATE, Place of Birth, HEALTH_CARE_PROVIDER_PRACTICE, Midwifery

Intervention Description: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of modified birth center care on obstetric procedures during delivery and on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Intervention Results: The modified birth center group included fewer emergency cesarean sections (primiparas: OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.58-0.83; multiparas: OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.23-0.51), and in multiparas the vacuum extraction rate was reduced (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.26-0.67). In addition, epidural analgesia was used less frequently (primiparas: OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.41-0.53; multiparas: OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.20-0.32). Fetal distress was less frequently diagnosed in the modified birth center group (primiparas: OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87; multiparas: OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.29-0.69), but no statistically significant differences were found in neonatal hypoxia, low Apgar score less than 7 at 5 minutes, or proportion of perinatal deaths (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.14-1.13). Anal sphincter tears were reduced (primiparas: OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55-0.98; multiparas: OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.20-0.83).

Conclusion: Midwife-led comprehensive care with the same medical guidelines as in standard care reduced medical interventions without jeopardizing maternal and infant health.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort

Setting: 1 large, public hospital

Population of Focus: Nulliparous women admitted to the modified birth center between March 2004 to July 2008 who gave birth at either the modified birth center or in standard delivery ward2

Data Source: Not specified

Sample Size: Total (n=6,141) Intervention (n=1,263) Control (n=4,878)

Age Range: Not Specified

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PROVIDER/PRACTICE, Labor Support, POPULATION-BASED SYSTEMS, State — Place of Birth, STATE, Place of Birth, Childbirth Education Classes, Midwifery, PATIENT_CONSUMER, HEALTH_CARE_PROVIDER_PRACTICE

Intervention Description: We evaluated the effect on perinatal outcomes of an interdisciplinary program designed to promote physiologic birth and encourage active involvement of women and their families in maternity care.

Intervention Results: Compared with women receiving standard care, those in the birth program were more likely to be delivered by a midwife (41.9% v. 7.4%, p < 0.001) instead of an obstetrician (35.5% v. 69.6%, p < 0.001). The program participants were less likely than the matched controls to undergo cesarean delivery (relative risk [RR] 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-0.84) and, among those with a previous cesarean delivery, more likely to plan a vaginal birth (RR 3.22, 95% CI 2.25-4.62). Length of stay in hospital was shorter in the program group for both the mothers (mean ± standard deviation 50.6 ± 47.1 v. 72.7 ± 66.7 h, p < 0.001) and the newborns (47.5 ± 92.6 v. 70.6 ± 126.7 h, p < 0.001). Women in the birth program were more likely than the matched controls to be breastfeeding exclusively at discharge (RR 2.10, 95% CI 1.85-2.39).

Conclusion: Women attending a collaborative program of interdisciplinary maternity care were less likely to have a cesarean delivery, had shorter hospital stays on average and were more likely to breastfeed exclusively than women receiving standard care.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort

Setting: 1 women’s hospital

Population of Focus: Nulliparous women who gave birth between April 2004 to October 20102

Data Source: Not specified

Sample Size: Total (n=1,660) Intervention (n=830) Control (n=830)

Age Range: Not Specified