Research

What does the research say?

Lower risks

Births at Birth Centers (BC) have a lower risk of medical interventions such as oxytocin drip, episiotomy, vacuum extraction, and cesarean section.

High patient satisfaction

Those who have given birth at Birth Centers often report higher satisfaction than those who have given birth in hospitals. They experience more support and engagement from midwives and feel that their choices and preferences are taken into account more.

Positive outcomes for low-risk pregnancies

BCs are considered most suitable for women with low-risk pregnancies. These women and their babies can achieve comparable or better outcomes with fewer medical interventions in a non-hospital setting.

Lower costs

Studies have found that BCs can be cost-effective compared to hospital births. Care provided there involves fewer medical interventions that can lead to subsequent complications. This reduces costs for both the birthing individuals and the healthcare system. A lot of resources are invested in preparation and high attendance during the birth, which helps avoid injuries that could have long-term consequences for the birthing individuals.

Policy document

Policy document from the Swedish Midwifery Team that we follow

A birthing person – a midwife

Forms of care

Some different research studies

Bernitz, S., Aas, E. and Øian, P., 2012. Economic evaluation of birth care in low-risk women. A comparison between a midwife-led birth unit and a standard obstetric unit within the same hospital in Norway. A randomised controlled trial. Midwifery, 28(5), pp.591-599.

Bernitz, S., Øian, P., Sandvik, L. and Blix, E., 2016. Evaluation of satisfaction with care in a midwifery unit and an obstetric unit: a randomized controlled trial of low-risk women. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 16(1), pp.1-8.

Brocklehurst, P., Hardy, P., Hollowell, J., Linsell, L., Macfarlane, A., McCourt, C., Stewart, M. (2011) Perinatal and maternal outcomes by planned place of birth for healthy women with low risk pregnancies: The Birthplace in England national prospective cohort study. BMJ, 343(4), pp.d7400-d7400.

Euro-Peristat Project. European Perinatal Health Report. Core indicators of the health and care of pregnant women and babies in Europe 2015 to 2019. Accessed 26 th January 2023 https://www.europeristat.com/images/Euro-Peristat_Fact_sheets_2022_for_upload.pdf

Grollman, C., Daniele, M.A., Brigante, L., Knight, G.M., Latina, L., Morgan, A.S. and Downe, S., 2022. Maternity service reconfigurations for intrapartum and postnatal midwifery staffing shortages: modelling of low-risk births in England. BMJ open, 12(9), p.e051747.

Lukasse, M. & Pajalic, Z., 2016. Norwegian midwives’ perceptions of empowerment. Sexual & reproductive Healthcare. 7, pp. 58-64.

McCourt C., Rayment J., Rance S. and Sandall J., An ethnographic organisational study of alongside midwifery units: a follow-on study from the birthplace in England programme, Health Services and Delivery Research Res. 2 (7), 2014.

McCourt C., Rayment J., Rance S. and Sandall J., Place of birth and concepts of wellbeing: an analysis from two ethnographic studies of midwifery units in England, Anthropology in Action 23 (3), 2016.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2014) Intrapartum Care For Healthy Women and Babies, 2023 (NICE guideline [NG235]) Available at: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg190

Overgaard C., Fenger-Grøn M. and Sandall J., The impact of birthplace on womens birth experiences and perceptions of care, Social Science & Medicine Soc. Sci. Med. 74 (7), 2012, 973–981.

Rocca-Ihenacho L., An Ethnographic Study of the Philosophy, Culture and Practice in an Urban Freestanding Midwifery Unit, Unpublished PhD thesis2017, City. University of London; London.

Scarf V., Rossiter C., Vedam S., Dahlen H.G., Ellwood D., Forster D., Foureur M.J., McLachlan H., Oats J., Sibbritt D., Thornton C. and Homer C.S.E., Maternal and perinatal outcomes by planned place of birth among women with low-risk pregnancies in high-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Midwifery 62, 2018, 240–255.

Schroeder E, Petrou S, Patel N, Hollowell J, Puddicombe D, Redshaw M, Brocklehurst P. Cost effectiveness of alternative planned places of birth in woman at low risk of complications: evidence from the Birthplace in England national prospective cohort study. British Medical Journal. 2012;344. Full text link.

Vedeler, C., Nilsen, A. B. V., Blix, E., Downe, S.& Eri,T.S. 2021. What women emphasise as important aspects of care in childbirth – an online survey. BJOG: An international Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

World Health Organisation (2018) WHO Recommendations: Intrapartum Care for a Positive Childbirth Experience, 2018, WHO; Geneva, Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550215#:~:text=This%20up-to-date,%20comprehensive%20and%20consolidated%20guideline%20on%20essential