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A comparison of midwife-led and obstetrician-led antenatal care for women with one previous Caesarean section

A comparison of midwife-led and obstetrician-led antenatal care for women with one previous Caesarean section
A comparison of midwife-led and obstetrician-led antenatal care for women with one previous Caesarean section
This research compared midwife-led with obstetrician-led antenatal care for women who had previously given birth by Caesarean section (CS) and had no other risk factors. The primary outcomes under investigation were intended and actual mode of birth. Safety outcomes were also evaluated and compared.

Internationally, CS rates have risen dramatically over the last three decades. There is large variation between rates in different maternity units. Vaginal birth after Caesarean (VBAC) is considered a safe option for the majority of women who have a previous CS. Evidence suggests that factors in antenatal care can influence women’s mode of birth decision, most notably the interaction with health professionals. Midwife-led care is known to have benefits for ‘low-risk’ women; it is argued that these benefits can be extrapolated to women whose only risk factor is a prior CS.

This research was a retrospective, comparative cohort study. A quantitative methodology was applied to objectively compare intended and actual VBAC rates between women who received either midwife-led or obstetrician-led antenatal care. Women’s case-notes were reviewed and data collected (n=405). The sample size was calculated to test a non-inferiority hypothesis: that midwife-led antenatal care elicits a VBAC rate that is equal to or higher than obstetrician-led. Analysis indicates that receiving midwife-led antenatal care resulted in higher intended and actual VBAC rates compared with obstetrician-led antenatal care: 90% vs. 77%, OR 2.78 (95% confidence interval 1.57-4.92), p<0.001 and 61% vs. 47%, OR 1.79 (1.2-2.66), p=0.004, respectively. These findings remained significant after adjustment for clinically important confounding factors. Analysis also provides some evidence that midwife-led antenatal care is safe and results in fewer episodes of unscheduled antenatal care and antenatal inpatient admissions.

Significant improvements were demonstrated with midwife-led compared to obstetrician-led antenatal care with regard to continuity of carer, the environment of care and the time women had to make their mode of birth choice. It is theorised that these differences, the organisation’s support of the innovation and, perhaps most importantly, the midwifery expertise and focus on normal birth increased the VBAC rate by enhancing women’s confidence in their ability to birth naturally. This research has demonstrated an association between midwife-led antenatal care and increased VBAC rates and has provided some evidence that this type of care is safe.
White, H
01098922-ffb1-40fc-8fb6-9ac2771445d0
White, H
01098922-ffb1-40fc-8fb6-9ac2771445d0
Cluett, Elizabeth
cfa2fd26-8cc0-485c-876b-73fe92e9b4e1
Le May, Andree
d31b0269-60f6-47cd-a844-f0bc522662ab

White, H (2015) A comparison of midwife-led and obstetrician-led antenatal care for women with one previous Caesarean section. University of Southampton, Faculty of Health Sciences, Doctoral Thesis, 280pp.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

This research compared midwife-led with obstetrician-led antenatal care for women who had previously given birth by Caesarean section (CS) and had no other risk factors. The primary outcomes under investigation were intended and actual mode of birth. Safety outcomes were also evaluated and compared.

Internationally, CS rates have risen dramatically over the last three decades. There is large variation between rates in different maternity units. Vaginal birth after Caesarean (VBAC) is considered a safe option for the majority of women who have a previous CS. Evidence suggests that factors in antenatal care can influence women’s mode of birth decision, most notably the interaction with health professionals. Midwife-led care is known to have benefits for ‘low-risk’ women; it is argued that these benefits can be extrapolated to women whose only risk factor is a prior CS.

This research was a retrospective, comparative cohort study. A quantitative methodology was applied to objectively compare intended and actual VBAC rates between women who received either midwife-led or obstetrician-led antenatal care. Women’s case-notes were reviewed and data collected (n=405). The sample size was calculated to test a non-inferiority hypothesis: that midwife-led antenatal care elicits a VBAC rate that is equal to or higher than obstetrician-led. Analysis indicates that receiving midwife-led antenatal care resulted in higher intended and actual VBAC rates compared with obstetrician-led antenatal care: 90% vs. 77%, OR 2.78 (95% confidence interval 1.57-4.92), p<0.001 and 61% vs. 47%, OR 1.79 (1.2-2.66), p=0.004, respectively. These findings remained significant after adjustment for clinically important confounding factors. Analysis also provides some evidence that midwife-led antenatal care is safe and results in fewer episodes of unscheduled antenatal care and antenatal inpatient admissions.

Significant improvements were demonstrated with midwife-led compared to obstetrician-led antenatal care with regard to continuity of carer, the environment of care and the time women had to make their mode of birth choice. It is theorised that these differences, the organisation’s support of the innovation and, perhaps most importantly, the midwifery expertise and focus on normal birth increased the VBAC rate by enhancing women’s confidence in their ability to birth naturally. This research has demonstrated an association between midwife-led antenatal care and increased VBAC rates and has provided some evidence that this type of care is safe.

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More information

Published date: August 2015
Organisations: University of Southampton, Faculty of Health Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 381573
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/381573
PURE UUID: e2fb0892-637d-4c9c-8433-1e38434c4912
ORCID for Elizabeth Cluett: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-8707-5042

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 19 Oct 2015 10:55
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 21:17

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Contributors

Author: H White
Thesis advisor: Elizabeth Cluett ORCID iD
Thesis advisor: Andree Le May

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