The risk of intrapartum/neonatal mortality and morbidity following birth at 37 weeks of gestation: a nationwide cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess intrapartum/neonatal mortality and morbidity risk in infants born at 37 weeks of gestation compared with infants born at 39-41 weeks of gestation. DESIGN: Nationwide cohort study. SETTING: The Netherlands. POPULATION: A total of 755 198 women delivering at term of a singleton without congenital malformations during 2010-14. METHODS: We used data from the national perinatal registry (PERINED). Analysis was performed with logistic regression and stratification for the way labour started and type of care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intrapartum or neonatal mortality up to 28 days and adverse neonatal outcome (neonatal mortality, 5-minute Apgar <7, and/or neonatal intensive care unit admission). RESULTS: At 37 weeks of gestation intrapartum/neonatal mortality was 1.10‰ compared with 0.59‰ at 39-41 weeks (P < 0.0001). Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for 37 weeks compared with 39-41 weeks was 1.84 (95% CI) 1.39-2.44). Adverse neonatal outcome at 37 weeks was 21.4‰ compared with 12.04‰ at 39-41 weeks (P < 0.0001) with an aOR 1.63 (95% CI 1.53-1.74). Spontaneous start of labour at 37 weeks of gestation was significantly associated with increased intrapartum/neonatal mortality with an aOR of 2.20 (95% CI 1.56-3.10), in both primary (midwifery-led) care and specialist care. Neither induction of labour nor planned caesarean section showed increased intrapartum/neonatal mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: Birth at 37 weeks of gestation is independently associated with a higher frequency of clinically relevant adverse perinatal outcomes than birth at 39-41 weeks. In particular, spontaneous start of labour at 37 weeks of gestation doubles the risk for intrapartum/neonatal mortality. Extra fetal monitoring is warranted. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Birth at 37 weeks of gestation gives markedly higher intrapartum/neonatal mortality risk than at 39-41 weeks, especially with spontaneous start of labour.

Travel time from home to hospital and adverse perinatal outcomes in women at term in the Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of travel time, at the start or during labour, from home to hospital on mortality and adverse outcomes in pregnant women at term in primary and secondary care. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study from 2000 up to and including 2006. SETTING: The Netherlands Perinatal Registry. POPULATION: A total of 751,926 singleton term hospital births. METHODS: We assessed the impact of travel time by car, calculated from the postal code of the woman's residence to the 99 maternity units, on neonatal outcome. Logistic regression modelling with adjustments for gestational age, maternal age, parity, ethnicity, socio-economic status, urbanisation, tertiary care centres and volume of the hospital was used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality (intrapartum, and early and late neonatal mortality) and adverse neonatal outcomes (mortality, Apgar <4 and/or admission to a neonatal intensive care unit). RESULTS: The mortality was 1.5 per 1000 births, and adverse outcomes occurred in 6.0 per 1000 births. There was a positive relationship between longer travel time (≥20 minutes) and total mortality (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.002-1.36), neonatal mortality within 24 hours (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.13-2.02) and with adverse outcomes (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.17-1.38). In addition to travel time, both delivery at 37 weeks of gestation (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.81-2.73) or 41 weeks of gestation (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.29-1.80) increased the risk of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: A travel time from home to hospital of 20 minutes or more by car is associated with an increased risk of mortality and adverse outcomes in women at term in the Netherlands. These findings should be considered in plans for the centralisation of obstetric care.

[Perinatal mortality in The Netherlands 2000-2006; risk factors and risk selection]. / Perinatale sterfte in Nederland gedurende 2000-2006; risicofactoren en risicoselectie.

OBJECTIVE: To gain insight in recent perinatal mortality figures in The Netherlands and their relation with important risk factors, risk groups and risk selection among pregnant women. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHOD: The National Obstetrical Registrations and the National Neonatal Registration were linked into The Netherlands Perinatal Registry to prevent double counting. From this database, data on 1.3 million births in the years 2000-2006 were analysed with perinatal mortality as outcome measure. RESULTS: In 2006, perinatal mortality was 9.8 per 1000 total births (foetal mortality 6.8 per 1000 births and early neonatal mortality 3.1 per 1000 live births). Maternal age (< 20 and > or = 40 years) and high multiparity (> or = 4) were risk factors for perinatal mortality but showed low prevalence (< 3%). Non-Western ethnicity and nulliparity were important risk factors (relative risk of both 1.4) with a prevalence of 16% and 46%, respectively. The very preterm births (22.0-25.6 weeks of gestation) provided 29% ofall perinatal mortality with a mortality risk of 935 per 1000 births. Full-term births (> or = 37.0 weeks) accounted for 26% of all perinatal mortality with a mortality risk of 2.8 per 1000 births. In the full-term born group, perinatal mortality was 0.4 per 1000 births in home births, 2.7 per 1000 births in outpatient clinics and 4.5 per 1000 births when the women were referred to the gynaecologist before start of labour. CONCLUSION: At a population level, low or high maternal age and high parity are less important risk factors than expected. More detailed research is indicated into the mortality ofvery preterm births but also offull-term born children.

The Wormerveer study; perinatal mortality and non-optimal management in a practice of independent midwives.

In a prospective study in a group of 7980 pregnant women who booked in an independent midwife practice perinatal mortality was studied with the aim to assess non-optimal management. An internally generated audit proved not to be successful because of emotional involvement. A panel of independent experts seemed to be a better instrument to assess the quality of care. In 66 (75%) of all 89 cases complete consensus or near consensus was reached. In this group preventable factors were noticed in 29 cases (44%). In 30 cases (45%) the mortality was judged as inevitable. In 7 cases the information was insufficient. In the 29 cases with preventable factors, 12 cases concerned the skill of the obstetrician, seven cases the skill of the pediatrician, seven cases the skill of the midwife. In two cases the behaviour of the patient and in one case the skill of the general practitioner were blamed. Preventable factors are mainly present in decisions made during the prenatal period by the midwife (or general practitioner) and the obstetrician, and in care during labour and delivery and the postnatal period by the obstetrician and pediatrician. The care of the midwife during labour and delivery had little influence on preventable perinatal mortality. A further decrease of perinatal mortality may be achieved by analysis of the cases and continued education of all workers in perinatal care.

Vaginal birth after caesarean section in a population with a low overall caesarean section rate.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical outcome of vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC) in a Dutch population with a low overall caesarean section (CS) rate of 6.5%. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective population based cohort study of 252 patients with a previous caesarean section (CS). Outcome parameters were trial of labour (TOL), success rate and VBAC rate. RESULTS: The TOL rate in the study cohort was 73%, success rate 77%, VBAC rate 56%. The reason for the previous CS influenced success rate. Complications, morbidity and mortality were not different between elective, emergency CS and TOL group, except for a higher incidence of haemorrhage more than 500 ml in the elective CS compared to the TOL group (29% versus 17%, relative risk (RR) 1.74 (1.15--2.34)). CONCLUSIONS: In this Dutch study the success rate is comparable to rate in US study reports. Increase of the VBAC rate can mainly be achieved by increasing the number of women attempting TOL.

[Laparoscopic sterilization]. / Sterilisatie per laparoscoop.

PIP: The literature on the possible complications of laparoscopic sterilization is reviewed. The reliability of this method and the correlation between its reliability and the surgeon's experience are discussed. In addition, a report is presented of the experience gained with the first 1000 laparoscopic sterilizations in a general hospital.^ieng

[Duration of the second stage and the condition of the neonate in midwife-managed deliveries]. / Uitdrijvingsduur en de toestand van de pasgeborene bij door vroedvrouwen geleide bevallingen.

The correlation between the duration of the second stage on the one hand, and arterial cord blood pH/neurological score on the other hand was calculated for 71 primi- and 77 multiparae. The pregnant women were selected during pregnancy as low risk cases and under care of midwives at the beginning of labour. The deliveries were attended by a midwife or, after referral during labour/delivery, by an obstetrician. It could not be established that a relatively long second stage substantially deteriorated the condition of the neonate. From the findings obtained it does not appear necessary to change the rules regarding maximal duration of second stage (currently two hours for primi- and one hour for multiparae).

[The determinants of the high Dutch perinatal mortality in a complete regional cohort, 1990-1994]. / Determinanten van hoge Nederlandse perinatale sterfte onderzocht in een complete regionale cohort, 1990-1994.

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of the effects of population-based determinants (maternal age, parity, multiple pregnancy and ethnicity) and of professional and organisational factors (conservative management in case of early preterm birth, the policy on prenatal screening and the Dutch obstetric-care system in general) on perinatal mortality. DESIGN: Population-based prospective cohort study. METHOD: In a regional cohort (Zaanstreek) of 8031 pregnancies in the period 1990-1994 data were prospectively collected in an electronic database by deliverers of primary and secondary care. Analysis focussed on the effect on perinatal mortality of maternal age, parity, multiple pregnancy, ethnicity and professional and organisational factors (the policy in case of early preterm birth, the policy on prenatal screening and the Dutch obstetric-care system in general). Perinatal mortality was defined as mortality from a gestational age of 22 weeks until 28 days post partum. RESULTS: The perinatal mortality in the Zaanstreek was 12.6/1000. Increasing the gestational age to 28 weeks decreased the perinatal mortality by 29%. The perinatal mortality in this cohort was significantly affected by parity, multiple pregnancy and maternal age (relative risk: 2.8), but not by ethnicity if corrected for the previous factors. Conservative management in case of early preterm birth and a restrictive screening policy for lethal birth defects were associated with an increase in perinatal mortality. In 31 of 92 singleton pregnancies followed by perinatal mortality, a relationship to substandard care was established. In 7 cases this relationship was probable and in 1 case the midwife was responsible. CONCLUSION: Given the magnitude of their effects, both independently and via interaction, stratification for maternal age, parity, multiple pregnancy and ethnicity must precede any interpretation and comparison of perinatal mortality rates. Although clinical policy played a modest role, a negative role of the organisation of obstetric care was unlikely in this cohort. A definitive judgement as to the quality of perinatal care would require extension of the evaluation to at least the entire first year of life in connection with the morbidity. The most favourable effects can be expected from stimulatory measures directed at lowering the age at first pregnancy.

Ethnic differences in stillbirth and early neonatal mortality in The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Ethnic disparities in perinatal mortality are well known. This study aimed to explore the contribution of demographic, socioeconomic, health behavioural and pre-existent medical risk factors among different ethnic groups on fetal and early neonatal mortality. METHODS: We assessed perinatal mortality from 24.0 weeks' gestation onwards in 554 234 singleton pregnancies of nulliparous women in the linked Netherlands Perinatal Registry over the period 2000-2006. Logistic regression modelling was used. RESULTS: Considerable ethnic differences in perinatal mortality exist especially in fetal mortality. Maternal age, socioeconomic status and pre-existent diseases could not explain these ethnic differences. Late booking visit could explain some differences. Compared with the Dutch, African women had an increased fetal mortality risk of OR 1.7 (95% CI 1.4 to 2.1); South Asian women, 1.8 (1.4 to 2.3); other non-Western women, 1.3 (1.1 to 1.6) and Turkish/Moroccan women, 1.3 (1.1 to 1.4). The risk on early neonatal mortality was only increased in other non-Western women, OR 1.3 (1.0 to 1.8). Ethnic differences were even present in the women without risk factors including preterm births. Mortality risk for East Asian and other Western women was lower or comparable with the Dutch. CONCLUSION: Important ethnic differences in fetal mortality exist, especially among women of African and South Asian origin. Ethnic minorities should be more acquainted with the significance of early start of prenatal care. Tailored prenatal care for women with African and South Asian origin seems necessary. More research on underlying cause of deaths is needed by ethnic group.

Decreasing perinatal mortality in The Netherlands, 2000-2006: a record linkage study.

BACKGROUND: The European PERISTAT-1 study showed that, in 1999, perinatal mortality, especially fetal mortality, was substantially higher in The Netherlands than in other European countries. The aim of this study was to analyse the recent trend in Dutch perinatal mortality and the influence of risk factors. METHODS: A nationwide retrospective cohort study of 1,246,440 singleton births in 2000-2006 in The Netherlands. The source data were available from three linked registries: the midwifery registry, the obstetrics registry and the neonatology/paediatrics registry. The outcome measure was perinatal mortality (fetal and early neonatal mortality). The trend was studied with and without risk adjustment. Five clinical distinct groups with different perinatal mortality risks were used to gain further insight. RESULTS: Perinatal mortality among singletons declined from 10.5 to 9.1 per 1000 total births in the period 2000-2006. This trend remained significant after full adjustment (odds ratio 0.97; 95% CI 0.96 to 0.98) and was present in both fetal and neonatal mortality. The decline was most prominent among births complicated by congenital anomalies, among premature births (32.0-36.6 weeks) and among term births. Home births showed the lowest mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: Dutch perinatal mortality declined steadily over this period, which could not be explained by changes in known risk factors including high maternal age and non-western ethnicity. The decline was present in all risk groups except in very premature births. The mortality level is still high compared with European standards.

Midwifery in The Netherlands. The Wormerveer study; selection, mode of delivery, perinatal mortality and infant morbidity.

Between 1969 and 1983 a group of 7980 pregnant women, booked consecutively at a practice of freestanding midwives in Wormerveer, the Netherlands, was studied. They gave birth to 8055 children. Perinatal mortality in the total group was low (11.1 per 1000) compared with national figures of 14.5 per 1000 between 1969 and 1983. The highest mortality (51.7 per 1000) was found in the group of 1430 infants born after maternal referral during pregnancy to a specialist obstetrician. The perinatal mortality in the group selected during pregnancy as low-risk cases was very low (2.3 per 1000). The caesarean section rate in the total group was 1.4% and 0.4% in the selected low-risk group. Of the 5985 infants born alive under sole care of a midwife, 3.8% were admitted to hospital. Emergency admission because of birth asphyxia occurred in 0.4%. Convulsions within 48 h of birth at term occurred in seven (0.9 per 1000) in the total group and in five infants born in the selected group (0.8 per 1000). Selection of pregnant women into groups with high and with low risk is possible with the relatively modest means available to the midwife.