Lauri M M van den Berg, Jens Henrichs, Jeroen van Dillen, Soo Downe, Corine Verhoeven, Ank de Jonge
Introduction: This study was performed to compare childbirth experiences in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands (NL) and identify determinants of positive childbirth experiences in both countries.
Methods: Women who gave birth in the UK (n = 1303) or the NL (n = 900) between January 2017 and December 2020 who filled in the cross-sectional Babies Born Better survey were included in this study. Fully adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess differences in the odds of a positive childbirth experience between the two countries. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were performed to identify determinants of a positive childbirth experience, including socio-demographic factors, pregnancy and childbirth outcomes, and care-related determinants.
Results: Respondents giving birth in the UK had decreased odds of a positive childbirth experience compared to NL respondents (66% vs. 85%, AOR 0.45, CI 0.35-0.57). Significant determinants for a positive childbirth experience were multiparity, absence of pregnancy complications, a spontaneous vaginal birth, and giving birth at home. UK respondents who had a planned caesarean section had a higher likelihood of reporting a positive childbirth experience when adjusted for confounders. Having a doctor as the primary birth care provider was less likely to be associated with a positive childbirth experience in the UK.
Conclusions: Most women in both the NL and the UK reported positive childbirth experiences, but NL respondents were more likely to do so. Determinants of a positive birth experience were mostly factors associated with uncomplicated labor and birth, or linked with fulfilled choices and with being multiparous.
本研究旨在比较英国(UK)和荷兰(NL)的分娩经历,并确定两国积极分娩经历的决定因素。方法:2017年1月至2020年12月期间在英国(n = 1303)或英国(n = 900)分娩的妇女(n = 900)填写了横断面婴儿出生更好的调查。完全调整的逻辑回归模型被用来评估两国之间积极分娩经历的几率差异。进行了分层逻辑回归分析,以确定积极分娩经历的决定因素,包括社会人口因素、妊娠和分娩结局以及与护理相关的决定因素。结果:与NL受访者相比,在英国分娩的受访者积极分娩经历的几率降低(66%对85%,AOR 0.45, CI 0.35-0.57)。积极分娩经历的重要决定因素是多胎、无妊娠并发症、自然阴道分娩和在家分娩。在调整混杂因素后,计划剖腹产的英国受访者报告积极分娩经历的可能性更高。在英国,有医生作为初级分娩保健提供者不太可能与积极的分娩经历联系在一起。结论:美国和英国的大多数女性都报告了积极的分娩经历,但美国的受访者更有可能这样做。积极的分娩经历的决定因素主要是与简单的分娩和分娩有关的因素,或者与完成的选择和多胞胎有关。
{"title":"Childbirth Experiences in the United Kingdom Compared to the Netherlands: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study.","authors":"Lauri M M van den Berg, Jens Henrichs, Jeroen van Dillen, Soo Downe, Corine Verhoeven, Ank de Jonge","doi":"10.1111/birt.70006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.70006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study was performed to compare childbirth experiences in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands (NL) and identify determinants of positive childbirth experiences in both countries.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Women who gave birth in the UK (n = 1303) or the NL (n = 900) between January 2017 and December 2020 who filled in the cross-sectional Babies Born Better survey were included in this study. Fully adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess differences in the odds of a positive childbirth experience between the two countries. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were performed to identify determinants of a positive childbirth experience, including socio-demographic factors, pregnancy and childbirth outcomes, and care-related determinants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Respondents giving birth in the UK had decreased odds of a positive childbirth experience compared to NL respondents (66% vs. 85%, AOR 0.45, CI 0.35-0.57). Significant determinants for a positive childbirth experience were multiparity, absence of pregnancy complications, a spontaneous vaginal birth, and giving birth at home. UK respondents who had a planned caesarean section had a higher likelihood of reporting a positive childbirth experience when adjusted for confounders. Having a doctor as the primary birth care provider was less likely to be associated with a positive childbirth experience in the UK.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Most women in both the NL and the UK reported positive childbirth experiences, but NL respondents were more likely to do so. Determinants of a positive birth experience were mostly factors associated with uncomplicated labor and birth, or linked with fulfilled choices and with being multiparous.</p>","PeriodicalId":55350,"journal":{"name":"Birth-Issues in Perinatal Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144838615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Intermittent auscultation is the gold standard for fetal assessment in uncomplicated pregnancies and labors and is used universally in the community birth setting. Great variation exists in intermittent auscultation practices and language used by community birth midwives across the country. Current standards, as defined by midwifery schools, state midwifery licensing boards, and individual midwifery practices, differ significantly and sometimes contradict each other. Community birth midwives, nurses and birth assistants, midwifery educators and those working in community birth quality improvement have been in need of common language and guidance on best practices in intermittent auscultation.
Objective: Develop and disseminate consensus standards for intermittent auscultation in the community birth setting in the United States.
Methodology: Creation of guidelines through a 21-month consensus process with a workgroup of educators, leaders, quality improvement experts, and practicing midwives by identifying practices supported by evidence or clinical experience, evaluating current evidence and guidelines, eliciting feedback from education, midwifery, nursing, and birth center organizations, and incorporating revisions to create the final document.
Results: Consensus was reached on various elements of intermittent auscultation and guidelines were created. These guidelines address readiness, assessment, interpretation, and documentation of fetal heart tones, clinical decision making, and areas for future research. These guidelines provide a minimum standard for performance and documentation of intermittent auscultation in community birth midwifery practice.
{"title":"Consensus Guidelines for Intermittent Auscultation in United States Community Birth Settings.","authors":"Silke Akerson, Sarah Bradbury, Rosanna Davis, Wendy Gordon, Amy Romano, Holly Scholles","doi":"10.1111/birt.70002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.70002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intermittent auscultation is the gold standard for fetal assessment in uncomplicated pregnancies and labors and is used universally in the community birth setting. Great variation exists in intermittent auscultation practices and language used by community birth midwives across the country. Current standards, as defined by midwifery schools, state midwifery licensing boards, and individual midwifery practices, differ significantly and sometimes contradict each other. Community birth midwives, nurses and birth assistants, midwifery educators and those working in community birth quality improvement have been in need of common language and guidance on best practices in intermittent auscultation.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Develop and disseminate consensus standards for intermittent auscultation in the community birth setting in the United States.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Creation of guidelines through a 21-month consensus process with a workgroup of educators, leaders, quality improvement experts, and practicing midwives by identifying practices supported by evidence or clinical experience, evaluating current evidence and guidelines, eliciting feedback from education, midwifery, nursing, and birth center organizations, and incorporating revisions to create the final document.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Consensus was reached on various elements of intermittent auscultation and guidelines were created. These guidelines address readiness, assessment, interpretation, and documentation of fetal heart tones, clinical decision making, and areas for future research. These guidelines provide a minimum standard for performance and documentation of intermittent auscultation in community birth midwifery practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":55350,"journal":{"name":"Birth-Issues in Perinatal Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144562075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hannah de Klerk, Janneke Gitsels, Ank de Jonge, Elsa Montgomery, Janneke Van't Hooft, Marit van der Pijl, Martine Hollander, Corine Verhoeven
Background: Sexual violence (SV) history is associated with various birth outcomes. Yet, the underlying mechanisms of these associations have not been sufficiently explained. Disclosure of SV history to a maternity care provider may play an important role in maternity care providers' choice for birth interventions and in women's birth experience.
Methods: A cross-sectional nationwide survey was conducted among women who had given birth in the 5 years prior to completing the questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed to compare the associations between SV history (total, disclosed, and undisclosed) and birth outcomes.
Results: Of 10,867 respondents, 1121 (10.3%) reported SV, of whom 582 (52%) disclosed to their maternity care provider. Respondents who disclosed their SV history had lower adjusted odds of episiotomy than respondents without an SV history (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.71, 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] 0.56-0.90). Primiparous respondents who disclosed their SV history had increased odds of unplanned cesarean birth compared to spontaneous (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.04-1.81) and assisted vaginal birth (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.17-2.61). Primiparous respondents with both a disclosed and undisclosed SV history had increased adjusted odds of negative birth (AOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.50-2.12). There were no differences in referral to obstetrician-led care, home birth, preterm labor, and pharmaceutical pain relief between groups.
Conclusions: When people disclose their SV history, maternity care providers are less likely to perform an episiotomy, and more likely to choose an unplanned cesarean birth over vaginal birth. However, disclosure of SV history does not ameliorate the birth experience and we therefore recommend better implementation of trauma-informed birth support for women with an SV history.
背景:性暴力(SV)史与各种出生结局有关。然而,这些关联的潜在机制尚未得到充分解释。向产科保健提供者披露SV病史可能在产科保健提供者选择分娩干预措施和妇女分娩经验方面发挥重要作用。方法:在全国范围内对填写问卷前5年内生育的妇女进行横断面调查。采用Logistic回归分析比较SV史(总、公开和未公开)与出生结果之间的关系。结果:在10867名受访者中,1121名(10.3%)报告了性侵犯,其中582名(52%)向产科保健提供者披露了性侵犯。有SV病史的被调查者比没有SV病史的被调查者进行会阴切开术的调整后几率更低(调整后优势比[AOR] 0.71, 95%可信区间[95% CI] 0.56-0.90)。与自然分娩(OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.04-1.81)和辅助阴道分娩(OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.17-2.61)相比,披露其SV史的初产妇发生计划外剖宫产的几率更高。无论是公开的还是未公开的SV史的初产应答者均增加了负出生的调整后几率(AOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.50-2.12)。在产科医生主导的护理、家庭分娩、早产和药物疼痛缓解方面,两组之间没有差异。结论:当人们透露他们的SV病史时,产科护理提供者不太可能进行外阴切开术,更有可能选择计划外剖宫产而不是阴道分娩。然而,披露SV史并不能改善分娩体验,因此我们建议对有SV史的妇女更好地实施创伤知情分娩支持。
{"title":"Birth Outcomes After Sexual Violence and the Role of Disclosure to the Maternity Care Provider.","authors":"Hannah de Klerk, Janneke Gitsels, Ank de Jonge, Elsa Montgomery, Janneke Van't Hooft, Marit van der Pijl, Martine Hollander, Corine Verhoeven","doi":"10.1111/birt.70001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.70001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sexual violence (SV) history is associated with various birth outcomes. Yet, the underlying mechanisms of these associations have not been sufficiently explained. Disclosure of SV history to a maternity care provider may play an important role in maternity care providers' choice for birth interventions and in women's birth experience.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional nationwide survey was conducted among women who had given birth in the 5 years prior to completing the questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed to compare the associations between SV history (total, disclosed, and undisclosed) and birth outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 10,867 respondents, 1121 (10.3%) reported SV, of whom 582 (52%) disclosed to their maternity care provider. Respondents who disclosed their SV history had lower adjusted odds of episiotomy than respondents without an SV history (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.71, 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] 0.56-0.90). Primiparous respondents who disclosed their SV history had increased odds of unplanned cesarean birth compared to spontaneous (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.04-1.81) and assisted vaginal birth (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.17-2.61). Primiparous respondents with both a disclosed and undisclosed SV history had increased adjusted odds of negative birth (AOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.50-2.12). There were no differences in referral to obstetrician-led care, home birth, preterm labor, and pharmaceutical pain relief between groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>When people disclose their SV history, maternity care providers are less likely to perform an episiotomy, and more likely to choose an unplanned cesarean birth over vaginal birth. However, disclosure of SV history does not ameliorate the birth experience and we therefore recommend better implementation of trauma-informed birth support for women with an SV history.</p>","PeriodicalId":55350,"journal":{"name":"Birth-Issues in Perinatal Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144546266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}