Intrapartum and neonatal mortality among low-risk women in midwife-led versus obstetrician-led care in the Amsterdam region of the Netherlands: A propensity score matched study

Melanie M.J. Wiegerinck* (Corresponding Author), Birgit Y. Van Der Goes, Anita C.J. Ravelli, Joris A.M. Van Der Post, Fayette C.D. Buist, Pieter Tamminga, Ben W. Mol

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Objective To compare intrapartum and neonatal mortality in low-risk term women starting labour in midwife-led versus obstetrician-led care. Study design We performed a propensity score matched study using data from our national perinatal register, completed with data from medical files. We studied women without major risk factors with singleton pregnancies who gave birth at term between 2005 and 2008 in the Amsterdam region of the Netherlands. Major risk factors comprised non-vertex position of the fetus, previous Caesarean birth, hypertension, (gestational) diabetes mellitus, post-term pregnancy (≥42 weeks), prolonged rupture of membranes (>24 hours), vaginal bleeding in the second half of pregnancy or induced labour. Groups were devided by midwife-led versus obstetrician-led care at the onset of labour. The primary outcome was intrapartum and neonatal (<28 days) mortality. Secondary outcomes included obstetric interventions, 5 min Apgar scores<7 and neonatal intensive care admittance for >24 hours. Results We studied 57 396 women. Perinatal mortality occurred in 30 of 46 764 (0.64‰) women in midwife-led care and in 2 of 10 632 (0.19‰) women in obstetrician-led care (OR 3.4, 95% CI 0.82 to 14.3). A propensity score matched analysis in a 1:1 ratio with 10 632 women per group revealed an OR for perinatal mortality of 4.0 (95% CI 0.85 to 18.9). Conclusion Among low-risk women, midwife-led care at the onset of labour was associated with a statistically non-significant higher mortality rate.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere018845
Pages (from-to)1-9
Number of pages9
JournalBMJ Open
Volume8
Issue number1
Early online date5 Jan 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Jan 2018

Bibliographical note

BWM is supported by a NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship (GNT1082548).

Data Availability Statement

Information regarding our additional analyses can be found in online supplementary appendix A1. These were analyses based on a random sample to validate our denominator.

Keywords

  • home birth
  • intrapartum mortality
  • low risk
  • midwifery
  • neonatal mortality
  • perinatal mortality

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