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Elderly nulliparae in midwifery care in Amsterdam
Y Smit1, S A Scherjon, P E Treffers
1Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Midwifery
|June 1, 1997
Summary
First-time mothers aged 35 and older experienced similar labor complications and obstetric outcomes compared to younger women, with the exception of lower birthweight. However, referral rates during labor were high for both groups.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal Health
- Reproductive Medicine
Background:
- Advanced maternal age (35 years and older) is increasingly common for first-time mothers.
- Understanding potential labor complications in this demographic is crucial for clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare labor complications and obstetric outcomes in nulliparous women aged 35+ versus those aged 20-30.
Main Methods:
- An explorative prospective cohort study.
- Involved 49 nulliparous women aged 35+ and 99 nulliparous women aged 20-30.
- Data collected from four independent midwives' practices in Amsterdam.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in pregnancy or labor referrals between age groups.
- Obstetric outcomes were similar, except for lower birthweight in the older group.
- A trend towards increased labor referrals in older women, primarily due to failure to progress.
Conclusions:
- Elderly nulliparae (35+) under midwifery care do not face increased risks of fetal distress or emergencies compared to younger nulliparae.
- High referral rates during labor were observed in both younger and older women.
- A trend for increased Cesarean sections in older women was noted, linked to labor progression issues.