Outcomes at Birth Centers

Birth centers are commonly defined as nonhospital facilities that provide maternity services for women medically judged as being at low risk for obstetric complications (Rooks, Ernst & Weatherby, 1992). These centers have become a part of accepted medical practice in both the United States and other countries, primarily because research (e.g. Albers & Savitz, 1991) has repeatedly demonstrated that low-risk women do not really require the much techno-medical intervention during their routine deliveries.

Rather, the medical needs of this population can be met by some very basic equipment and by staff such as nurses and/or midwives who are specifically trained in maternity care (Scupholme, DeJoseph, Strobino & Pain, 1992). The purpose of this report is to present a brief survey of the outcomes observed in the current research to be associated with American birth centers.

Outcomes Associated with US Birth Centers

The largest current study conducted on outcomes associated with birth centers in the United States was the National Birth Center Study conducted by Rooks, Weatherby, Ernst, Stapelton, Rosen and Rosenfield (1989) who collected outcome data related to 18,000 women receiving at least some perinatal care in birth centers with 11,814 of the women being admitted to the centers for intrapartum care. Women were drawn from 84 different birth centers located throughout the United States.

In terms of the general characteristics of women receiving care,

Related Essays

Birth Centers The purpose of this paper is to su .... Russell (1993) as well as Scupholme, DeJoseph, Strobino and Paine (1992), report that several of the positive outcomes associated with birth centers are due to .... (2191 9 )

Free-Standing Birth Center The purpose of this paper is to su .... Russell (1993) as well as Scupholme, DeJoseph, Strobino and Paine (1992), report that several of the positive outcomes associated with birth centers are due to .... (2191 9 )

RISK ASSESSMENT & MIDWIFERY Introduction This .... classified, and they may not always lead to adverse outcomes, however, examples .... Risk Assessment & Birth Center Settings Birth centers are defined as a health .... (2071 8 )

DELAYED CHILDBIRTH .... data drawn from the US Centers for Disease .... very preterm birth, moderately preterm birth and small .... an increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes after adjustment .... (2601 10 )

Factors Contributing to Delayed Childbirth .... data drawn from the US Centers for Disease .... very preterm birth, moderately preterm birth and small .... an increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes after adjustment .... (3040 12 )

idwifery clients experienced a low rate of cesarean birth. In addition, they stated that preterm birth rates very low (1.0%), low newborn birthweights occurred for only 2.4 of the women, and perinatal and neonatal death rates were only two per 1,000. Summary This brief survey of current studies of birth center outcomes indicate that low-risk women have a lowered chance of cesarean delivery, less excessive techno-medical intervention, average birthweight children, and almost no incidence of maternal or infant deaths when receiving maternal care from birth centers. In addition, nurse-midwife research indicated that nurse-midwives are excellent and acceptable alternatives maternal care service providers even when compared to physician-managed service and treatment. Moreover, birth centers are more cost effective than hospital settings because of their lower incidence of cesarean delivery and the fact that women do not require long stays following delivery. INTERACTION OF NURSE-MIDWIFE'S ETHNIC BACKGROUND AND PATIENT'S ETHNIC BACKGROUND ON BIRTH CENTER OUTCOMES: A RESEARCH PROPOSAL Background of the Problem In a comparison of nurse-midwife-managed patients and physician-managed patients, Butler, Abrams, Parker, Robe

Category: Medical - O