Table 1 Characteristics of low-risk nulliparous women who initially preferred a midwife-led home or hospital birth or an obstetrician-led birth
Midwife-led care | Obstetrician-led care | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Variable | Preferred home birth n = 226 (%) | Preferred hospital birth n = 168 (%) | n = 182 (%) |
Age (years)**mean (SD) | 28.8 (3.9) | 29.1 (3.8) | 30.9 (4.8) |
Body Mass Index | |||
<18.50 | 10 (4.5) | 5 (3.1) | 7 (3.9) |
18.50-24.99 | 139 (63.2) | 115 (71.4) | 121 (68.0) |
≥25.00-29.99 | 55 (25.0) | 33 (20.5) | 40 (22.5) |
≥30.00 | 16 (7.3) | 8 (5.0) | 10 (5.6) |
Ethnic background* | |||
Dutch | 225 (99.6) | 160 (95.2) | 174 (95.6) |
Non-Dutch | 1 (0.4) | 8 (4.8) | 8 (4.4) |
Highest completed level of education | |||
Low | 19 (8.4) | 18 (10.7) | 19 (10.4) |
Middle | 86 (38.1) | 56 (33.3) | 71 (39.0) |
High | 121 (53.5) | 94 (56.0) | 92 (50.5) |
Distance to hospital (in minutes) | |||
0–15 minutes | 170 (75.6) | 135 (80.8) | 135 (74.6) |
>15 minutes | 55 (24.4) | 32 (19.2) | 46 (25.4) |
Method of conception** | n = 163 | n = 121 | n = 182 |
Spontaneous | 154 (94.5) | 110 (90.9) | 132 (72.5) |
Assisted Reproduction | 9 (5.5) | 11 (9.1) | 50 (27.5) |
First pregnancy** | |||
Yes | 181 (80.1) | 142 (84.5) | 112 (61.9) |
No# | 45 (19.9) | 26 (15.5) | 69 (38.1) |
Gestation at birth (days)**mean (SD) | 278 (15) | 278 (13) | 274 (15) |