EXPERIENCE OF CHILDBIRTH IN BIRTH CENTER CARE - A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-STUDY

Background. The objective of the study was to compare women's use of o bstetric analgesia, experience of pain in labor, and other aspects of the childbirth experience at an in-hospital birth center and with stan dard maternity care. The birth center care was characterized by compre hensive antenatal, intrapartum and post partum care, on the same premi ses with a home-like environment and the same team of midwives, restri cted use of medical technology and pharmacological pain relief, and di scharge within 24 h after birth. Methods. Of 1,230 women interested in birth center care and meeting low-risk medical criteria in early preg nancy, 617 were randomly allotted birth center care (EG) and 613 stand ard obstetric care (CG). Data were collected by questionnaires two mon ths post partum, and hospital records. Results. EG women used less pha rmacological pain relief than CG women, but no difference was observed concerning the retrospective attitude to pain, or among primiparas, t o the intensity of pain experienced. EG multiparas experienced pain in labor as more intense, than did CG multiparas, probably because of a more negative prenatal attitude to labor pain. EG women experienced mo re support from the midwife, and a greater freedom in expressing their feelings during the birth than CG women. EG primiparas were more sati sfied with their own achievement and felt more involved in the birth p rocess than CG primiparas. No differences were observed between the gr oups regarding overall experience of childbirth, anxiety during the bi rth or support from husband. Conclusion: Birth center care gave women interested in a natural childbirth, by avoiding pharmacological pain r elief, greater opportunity to give birth according to their prenatal w ishes, and it contributed to a slightly more positive birth experience .