Referrals during labor in midwifery care.
In 2008, 84% (459) of 548 women with pregnancies initially considered "low risk" requested to give birth under midwifery care at Japanese Red Cross Katsushika Maternity Hospital. Of these, 42% (191) were referred to obstetric care during labor at term; however, we found no evidence that midwifery primary obstetric care is less safe for women with "low-risk" pregnancy than is standard obstetric care. Therefore, we recommend that midwifery care be promoted with an international collaborative effort.
Suzuki
Shunji
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japanese Red Cross Katsushika Maternity Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. czg83542@mopera.ne.jp
Satomi
Misao
M
Miyake
Hidehiko
H
D000328:Adult; D003675:Defensive Medicine; D005260:Female; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008880:Midwifery; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment