Objective
We sought to evaluate perinatal morbidity by delivery location (hospital, freestanding
birth center, and home).
Study Design
Selected 2006 US birth certificate data were accessed online from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Low-risk maternal and newborn outcomes were tabulated
and compared by birth facility.
Results
A total of 745,690 deliveries were included, of which 733,143 (97.0%) occurred in
hospital, 4661 (0.6%) at birth centers, and 7427 (0.9%) at home. Compared with hospital
deliveries, home and birthing center deliveries were associated with more frequent
prolonged and precipitous labors. Home births experienced more frequent 5-minute Apgar
scores <7. In contrast, home and birthing center deliveries were associated with less
frequent chorioamnionitis, fetal intolerance of labor, meconium staining, assisted
ventilation, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and birthweight <2500 g.
Conclusion
Home births are associated with a number of less frequent adverse perinatal outcomes
at the expense of more frequent abnormal labors and low 5-minute Apgar scores.
Key words
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: December 14, 2009
Accepted:
September 30,
2009
Received in revised form:
July 21,
2009
Received:
May 20,
2009
Footnotes
Reprints not available from the authors.
Cite this article as: Wax JR, Pinette MG, Cartin A, et al. Maternal and newborn morbidity by birth facility among selected United States 2006 low-risk births. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2010;202:152.e1-5.
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
