Labour interventions associated with normal birth

Abstract

A prospective cross-sectional prevalence survey of five consultant units in one region was carried out to establish the percentage of births which were termed ‘normal’ or ‘spontaneous’ but which in fact involved one or more of a specific set of interventions. Of the 1486 possible births in the survey, 1464 forms were completed (98.5%). Of the 956 births recorded as being normal or spontaneous, 596 fulfilled the definition of obstetric delivery (62.3%, confidence interval (CI) 59–65%). The rate for multiparous women was 60% (393/650, CI 56–64%) and for primiparous women 66.3% (203/306, CI 61–71%). Approximately one third of all women recorded as having a spontaneous or normal birth had experienced induction or acceleration of labour. Future work should examine the situation across the UK and internationally, along with the potential personal and economic consequences of the current culture of birth in hospital consultant units.