title: Referrals during labor in midwifery care.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japanese Red Cross Katsushika Maternity Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. czg83542@mopera.ne.jp
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Misao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satomi
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyake
mesh_terms: 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