Planned Home Birth in Low-Risk Pregnancies in Spain: A Descriptive Study.

Trinidad M Galera-Barbero,Gabriel Aguilera-Manrique

doi:10.3390/ijerph18073784

Trinidad M Galera-Barbero, Gabriel Aguilera-Manrique

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073784

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Abstract

Previous studies have shown that planned home birth in low-risk pregnancies is a generally safe option. However nowadays, only 0.5 percent of deliveries have been at home in Spain. This study sought to understand the characteristics of planned home births with qualified healthcare professionals in low-risk pregnancies and their results on maternal and neonatal health in the Balearic Islands. The study followed a retrospective descriptive design to investigate planned home births from 1989 to 2019 (n = 820). Sociodemographic data of women, healthcare professional intervention rates, and maternal/fetal morbidity/mortality results were collected. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using the IBM SPSS Version 25 software package. The results indicated that women with low-risk pregnancies who planned home births with a qualified midwife had a higher probability of spontaneous vaginal birth delivery and positive maternal health results. Furthermore, the risk of hospital transfer was low (10.7%) and the rate of prolonged breastfeeding (>1 year) was extremely high (99%). Moreover, the study showed that planned home births can be generally associated with fetal well-being. The conclusions and implications of this study are that planned home births in low-risk pregnancies attended by qualified midwives in the Balearic Islands achieve positive results in both maternal and newborn health, as well as low rates of obstetric intervention.

Highlights

IntroductionDuring pregnancy the pregnant woman prepares psychologically and physiologically to give birth [1]
Childbirth is one of the most important events in a woman’s life
39% of women in the study had previously had home births. This amounted to a total of 320 participants who had previously given birth at home and 100% of them chose to repeat this method of delivery

Summary

Introduction

During pregnancy the pregnant woman prepares psychologically and physiologically to give birth [1]. Normal vaginal birth is defined as “spontaneous onset, low risk at the start of labor, remaining as such until delivery. The newborn is born spontaneously in the cephalic position between weeks 37 and 42. After giving birth, both the mother and the newborn must be in good condition” [2,3]. Both the mother and the newborn must be in good condition” [2,3] Both parents should have the right to choose the place of birth with up-to-date information based on scientific evidence presented by qualified professionals [4]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion