The carbon footprint of different modes of birth in the UK and the Netherlands: An exploratory study using life cycle assessment.
BJOG
; 131(5): 568-578, 2024 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38272843
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To compare the carbon footprint of caesarean and vaginal birth.DESIGN:
Life cycle assessment (LCA).SETTING:
Tertiary maternity units and home births in the UK and the Netherlands. POPULATION Birthing women.METHODS:
A cradle-to-grave LCA using openLCA software to model the carbon footprint of different modes of delivery in the UK and the Netherlands. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
'Carbon footprint' (in kgCO2 equivalents [kgCO2 e]).RESULTS:
Excluding analgesia, the carbon footprint of a caesarean birth in the UK was 31.21 kgCO2 e, compared with 12.47 kgCO2 e for vaginal birth in hospital and 7.63 kgCO2 e at home. In the Netherlands the carbon footprint of a caesarean was higher (32.96 kgCO2 e), but lower for vaginal birth in hospital and home (10.74 and 6.27 kgCO2 e, respectively). Emissions associated with analgesia for vaginal birth ranged from 0.08 kgCO2 e (with opioid analgesia) to 237.33 kgCO2 e (nitrous oxide with oxygen). Differences in analgesia use resulted in a lower average carbon footprint for vaginal birth in the Netherlands than the UK (11.64 versus 193.26 kgCO2 e).CONCLUSION:
The carbon footprint of a caesarean is higher than for a vaginal birth if analgesia is excluded, but this is very sensitive to the analgesia used; use of nitrous oxide with oxygen multiplies the carbon footprint of vaginal birth 25-fold. Alternative methods of pain relief or nitrous oxide destruction systems would lead to a substantial improvement in carbon footprint. Although clinical need and maternal choice are paramount, protocols should consider the environmental impact of different choices.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Pegada de Carbono
/
Óxido Nitroso
Tipo de estudo:
Guideline
Limite:
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BJOG
Assunto da revista:
GINECOLOGIA
/
OBSTETRICIA
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Reino Unido