An analysis of 3,199 patients booked for delivery in general-practitioner obstetric units

Abstract

The outcome of 3,199 women booked for delivery in six general-practitioner obstetric units in one year was analyzed.

Five per cent cancelled their bookings, 26 per cent were transferred to a consultant unit after referral for routine problems of pregnancy (mainly postmaturity), and 14 per cent were transferred for problems arising in labour (principally uterine inertia). One per cent were transferred after confinement.

Fifty-four per cent were delivered successfully in the general-practitioner units.

There were 3,037 live births, 27 stillbirths and 22 neonatal deaths. Nine stillbirths and nine neonatal deaths resulted from congenital abnormalities, while two stillbirths and 11 neonatal deaths were due to immaturity. There were 25 sets of twins and one set of triplets. Seventy-five babies were abnormal, 105 weighed less than 2,500g, and 198 over 4,000g.

In this series almost 60 per cent of eventual perinatal deaths were transferred during pregnancy, and over 85 per cent before delivery.

The perinatal mortality of all women initially booked for a general-practitioner unit who delivered was 15·. The perinatal mortality of the 1,795 births in the six general-practitioner obstetric units was 3·9.