Table 4.
Association between neonatal outcomes and planned place of birth among the 12 982 births in the study
| Outcome | Relative risk (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Planned home birth with midwife v. planned hospital birth with midwife | Planned home birth with midwife v. planned hospital birth with physician | |
| Perinatal death | 0.61 (0.06–5.88) | 0.55 (0.06–5.25) |
| Apgar score < 7 at 1 min | 0.76 (0.66–0.88) | 0.74 (0.64–0.86) |
| Apgar score < 7 at 5 min | 0.92 (0.58–1.47) | 0.99 (0.61–1.61) |
| Meconium aspiration | 0.83 (0.38–1.81) | 0.45 (0.21–0.93) |
| Asphyxia at birth | 0.79 (0.30–2.05) | 0.70 (0.27–1.83) |
| Birth trauma* | 0.26 (0.11–0.58) | 0.33 (0.15–0.74) |
| Resuscitation at birth† | 0.23 (0.14–0.37) | 0.56 (0.32–0.96) |
| Birth weight < 2500 g | 0.44 (0.25–0.78) | 0.95 (0.56–1.78) |
| Seizures | 0.61 (0.12–3.03) | 0.66 (0.13–3.38) |
| Oxygen therapy > 24 h | 0.37 (0.24–0.59) | 0.38 (0.24–0.61) |
| Assisted ventilation > 24 h | 1.02 (0.34–3.04) | 0.68 (0.24–1.93) |
| Admission to hospital after home birth or readmission if hospital birth | 1.09 (0.83–1.42) | 1.39 (1.09–1.85) |
Note: CI = confidence interval.
*
Subdural or cerebral hemorrhage; fracture of clavicle, long bones or skull; facial nerve injury; Erb palsy; or unspecified birth trauma.
†
Intermittent positive pressure via endotracheal tube or chest compression, or use of drugs for resuscitation.