[Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes of women intending to give birth in a Birth Center: A single-center retrospective study]

Abstract

Objectives: The main objective is to describe the obstetric and pediatric outcomes of patients intending to give birth at the Nancy Birth Center (BC).

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study including all women who intended to give birth at the BC between 2020 and 2022. Outcomes were described according to the place of birth and the timing of transfer: the groups "antepartum transfer" and "intended birth at the BC". The latter group consisted of the subgroups "birth at the BC » and "intrapartum transfer". Obstetric and neonatal outcomes were described using composite morbidity scores.

Results: Out of 383 women, 33.9% (n=13/383) were transferred antepartum, 39.1% (n=150/383) were monitored at the BC and gave birth there without transfer, 16.1% (n=62/383) were transferred intrapartum, and 10.7% (n=41/383) were transferred postpartum. The maternal morbidity rate was 46.1% in the antepartum transfer group, 61.3% in the intrapartum transfer group, and 1.5% in the birth at the BC group. Neonatal morbidity rates were 8.4%, 11.3%, and 0.5%, respectively.

Conclusion: The defined eligibility criteria help to select women at lower obstetric risk. However, maternal and neonatal complications remain possible. Collaboration and proximity between the BC and the obstetric unit are essential.

Keywords: Adverse maternal outcome; Adverse neonatal outcome; Birth center; Grossesse à faible risque; Hémorragie du post-partum; Issue maternelle défavorable; Issue néonatale défavorable; Low-risk pregnancies; Maison de naissance; Midwifery unit; Postpartum hemorrhage; midwifery-led birth center.