Table 2 Characteristics of labour, birth, and post-delivery postnatal stay at postnatal enrolment

Maternal outcomes: number of women (n, %)

1757

769 (43.8)

988 (56.2)

 Use of regional anaesthetic in labour

1228 (69.9)

572 (74.4)

656 (66.4)

< 0.0001

 Second/third/fourth degree perineal tear or episiotomy

668 (38.0)

250 (32.5)

418 (42.3)

0.060

 Length of postnatal inpatient stay, days (median, IQR)

3 (2–4)

3 (2–5)

2 (1–3)

< 0.0001

 Admission to either high dependency unit or intensive care unit^b

181(10.3)

86 (11.2)

95 (9.6)

0.287

 Length of stay in high dependency unit or intensive care unit, days (median, IQR)

1 (1–1)

1 (1–2)

1 (1–1)

< 0.0001

Perinatal outcomes: number of infants

1803

799 (44.3)

1004 (55.7)

 Live births

1802 (99.9)

799 (100.0)

1003 (99.9)

0.372

 Vaginal

657 (36.4)

252 (31.5)

405 (40.3)

< 0.0001

 Forceps

168 (9.3)

68 (8.5)

100 (10.0)

 Ventouse

137 (7.6)

55 (6.9)

82 (8.2)

 Pre-labour Caesarean section

462 (25.6)

236 (29.5)

226 (22.5)

 In-labour Caesarean section

379 (21.0)

188 (23.5)

191 (19.0)

Gestational age at birth, weeks (mean, SD)

38.8 (2.3)

38.2 (2.6)

39.4 (1.9)

< 0.0001^a

Birthweight, kg (mean, SD)

3.198 (0.671)

3.010 (0.743)

3.348 (0.565)

< 0.0001^a

Small for Gestational Age (<10th birthweight centile)

184 (10.2)

177 (14.6)

67 (6.7)

< 0.0001

Length of infant inpatient stay, days (mean, SD)

4.2 (6.7)

5.7 (9.1)

3.1 (3.5)

< 0.0001^a

Baby (ies) admitted to the neonatal unit

230 (12.8)

155 (19.4)

75 (7.5)

< 0.0001

Length of stay in neonatal unit, days (mean, SD)

9.7 (9.6)

11.5 (9.9)

5.9 (7.6)

< 0.0001^a