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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Perineal injuries and birth positions among 2992 women with a low risk pregnancy who opted for a homebirth

Authors: Malin Edqvist, Ellen Blix, Hanne K. Hegaard, Olöf Ásta Ólafsdottir, Ingegerd Hildingsson, Karen Ingversen, Margareta Mollberg, Helena Lindgren

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Whether certain birth positions are associated with perineal injuries and severe perineal trauma (SPT) is still unclear. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of perineal injuries of different severity in a low-risk population of women who planned to give birth at home and to compare the prevalence of perineal injuries, SPT and episiotomy in different birth positions in four Nordic countries.

Methods

A population-based prospective cohort study of planned home births in four Nordic countries. To assess medical outcomes a questionnaire completed after birth by the attending midwife was used. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.

Results

Two thousand nine hundred ninety-two women with planned home births, who birthed spontaneously at home or after transfer to hospital, between 2008 and 2013 were included. The prevalence of SPT was 0.7 % and the prevalence of episiotomy was 1.0 %. There were differences between the countries regarding all maternal characteristics. No association between flexible sacrum positions and sutured perineal injuries was found (OR 1.02; 95 % CI 0.86–1.21) or SPT (OR 0.68; CI 95 % 0.26–1.79). Flexible sacrum positions were associated with fewer episiotomies (OR 0.20; CI 95 % 0.10–0.54).

Conclusion

A low prevalence of SPT and episiotomy was found among women opting for a home birth in four Nordic countries. Women used a variety of birth positions and a majority gave birth in flexible sacrum positions. No associations were found between flexible sacrum positions and SPT. Flexible sacrum positions were associated with fewer episiotomies.
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Metadata
Title
Perineal injuries and birth positions among 2992 women with a low risk pregnancy who opted for a homebirth
Authors
Malin Edqvist
Ellen Blix
Hanne K. Hegaard
Olöf Ásta Ólafsdottir
Ingegerd Hildingsson
Karen Ingversen
Margareta Mollberg
Helena Lindgren
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-016-0990-0

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