Birth centre confinement at the Queen Victoria Medical Centre: four years' experience

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Midwifery Care
• Maternal Health

Background:

• The Queen Victoria Medical Centre established a birth centre to provide specialized care for pregnant women.
• Evaluating the initial operational phase is crucial for assessing service efficacy and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the functioning and outcomes of the birth centre during its first four years.
• To assess the safety record of midwife-led care in a birth centre setting.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for women admitted to the birth centre.
• Analysis of admission, transfer, and delivery data.
• Evaluation of reasons for transfer to alternative obstetrical care.

Main Results:

• 1040 pregnant women were accepted; 518 delivered in the birth centre.
• 52 women withdrew for non-obstetric reasons.
• 470 women (45.2%) were transferred for antepartum (274) or intrapartum (196) complications.

Conclusions:

• The birth centre demonstrated an enviable safety record for women delivered within the facility.
• Midwife-led care in this birth centre setting proved effective for a significant cohort of women.
• The data supports the safety and viability of birth centres managed by midwives.