Low-risk obstetric care for low-risk mothers

The perinatal and maternal complication rates of 500 births in an alternate birth centre (ABC) were compared with a similar number of apparently low-risk pregnancies cared for in standard labour and delivery rooms. For babies the complication rates were higher for those born in the delivery room, but for mothers the rates were higher for those in the ABC. Because of the apparently low incidence of complications among babies delivered in the ABC it may be safe and perhaps preferable not to use electronic fetal monitoring in truly low-risk gravidae. A safe ABC programme, however, requires rigid adherence to protocols by both the mother and centre staff.