Table 1 Baseline and pregnancy related characteristics and labour outcomes for planned place of birth of women in the midwife-led care setting at the onset of labour

Baseline characteristics

Parity, n (%)

11.4 (1)

 Nulliparous

528 (41.3)

382 (48.9)

0.001

 Parous

751 (58.7)

399 (51.1)

Gestational age, n (%)

1.83 (2)

 37 weeks

35 (2.7)

28 (3.6)

0.40

 38 – 40 weeks

996 (77.9)

614 (78.6)

 41 - 42 weeks

248 (19.4)

139 (17.8)

Maternal age, n (%)

8.8 (2)

 < 25 years

99 (7.7)

72 (9.2)

0.01

 25-35 years

966 (75.6)

544 (69.7)

 > 35 years

213 (16.7)

165 (21.1)

Ethnic background, n (%)

54.5 (2)

 Dutch

1160 (90.9)

623 (80.1)

<0.001

 Western background

71 (5.6)

74 (9.5)

 Non-western background

45 (3.5)

81 (10.4)

Social status, n (%)

 1st quartile

342 (26.8)

222 (28.6)

1.1 (3)

0.78

 2nd quartile

322 (25.3)

190 (24.5)

 3rd quartile

290 (22.8)

179 (23.1)

 4th quartile

320 (25.1)

184 (23.7)

Pregnancy related characteristics

Pregnancy related anxiety^{^}, median (min – max)

 Fear of bearing a handicapped child

8.0 (4–16)

8.0 (4–16)

−1.6*

0.11

 Concern about one’s appearance

6.0 (3–12)

6.0 (3–12)

−1.3*

0.18

 Fear of giving birth

 Nulliparous women

6.0 (3–12)

7.0 (3–12)

−3.1*

0.002

 Parous women

3.0 (2–8)

4.0 (2–8)

−4.0*

<0.001

Labour outcomes

Medicinal pain relief^†, n (% yes)

129 (10.1)

171 (22.0)

54.8 (1)

<0.001

Transfer during labour, n (% transferred)

395 (30.9)

362 (46.5)

50.6 (1)

<0.001

Medical interventions, n (%)

 Vacuum-/forceps extraction

111 (8.7)

88 (11.3)

8.1 (2)

0.02

 Secondary caesarean section

38 (3.0)

36 (4.6)

Augmentation, n (% yes)

188 (14.7)

160 (20.5)

11.8 (1)

0.001

Complications baby postpartum, n (%)

21 (1.6)

14 (1.8)

0.067 (1)

0.80