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Black History Month
February 10, 2016
H EALTH
A new study looks at the risks of giving birth inside and outside a
hospital setting.
Births Inside and
Outside Hospital
Study inds both
can have good
outcomes
while in-hospital birth settings
were associated with a higher risk
for cesarean delivery and other
obstetric interventions, according
to new research at Oregon Health
& Science University.
Out-of-hospital birth settings
“This study continues the na-
in Oregon were associated with tional dialogue about the care, set-
a higher risk of perinatal death, ting and health care systems that
can provide more women with a
safe, healthy birth that meets their
birthing preferences,” said Jon-
athan M. Snowden, an epidemi-
ologist and assistant professor in
the Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology in the OHSU School
of Medicine.
“Our indings show that Or-
egon women are very likely to
have a safe delivery in any setting.
While those who deliver at home
or in birth centers are much more
likely to have a normal, vaginal
delivery, there is also a small but
statistically signiicant increase in
risk for adverse baby outcomes,”
Snowden said.
The study, which looked at
outcomes for mothers and babies
based on birth setting, was con-
ducted using data collected from
Oregon birth certiicates in 2012
and 2013 on what a mother’s in-
tended birth setting was when she
went into labor.
The study compared two groups
of “low-risk” pregnancies, mean-
ing the babies were head down,
close to their due date, and not
twins or triplets. One group was
planning hospital birth, the other
out-of-hospital birth.
“While the overall risk for peri-
natal death was low in all settings,
the stakes can be high,” said Dr.
Aaron B. Caughey, professor and
chair in the OHSU Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology. “As
health care providers, we need to
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