Authors

Eduardo Martínez Martín1, Javier Manrique Tejedor2, Miguel Ángel García Rebollo3,Paloma Martínez Galán4, Dolores Macarro Ruiz5, Mª Inmaculada Figuerol Caldero6

Position

1Enfermero Especialista Obstétrico-Ginecológico (Matrona). Hospital General de Segovia2Enfermero Especialista Obstétrico-Ginecológico (Matrona). Hospital Arnau-Vilanova (Lleida)3Enfermero Especialista Obstétrico-Ginecológico (Matrona). Hospital Materno Infantil de Badajoz4Enfermera Especialista Obstétrico-Ginecológico (Matrona). Hospital Virgen de La Salud (Toledo)5Enfermera Especialista Obstétrico-Ginecológico (Matrona). Hospital Virgen del Puerto (Plasencia)6Enfermera. Hospital Universitario Joan XXIII (Tarragona)

Contact address

Eduardo Martínez Martín. C/ Clavel, 6, 1º A. 40196 La Lastrilla (Segovia).

Contact email: edumartinez25@hotmail.com

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the current trends regarding home birth, as well as to examine the current scientific evidence regarding the advantages of home birth versus hospital birth.
Method: a narrative review was conducted, through a search in the following databases: Pubmed, Medline, Uptodate, Scielo, Cuide, Cochrane plus and Academic Google. In order to refine the search, English and Spanish were established as language limits, as well as publication date between 2000 and 2015.
Results: a total of 31 documents were selected from the bibliographic search. The selected bibliography included: systematic reviews of randomized controlled clinical trials, randomized clinical trials, observational studies of cohorts and of cases and controls, bibliographic reviews, and a document prepared by the Spanish Federation of Associations of Midwives. These studies show that the safety of home birth is similar to that of hospital birth; no significant differences have been found regarding morbimortality in newborns or mothers. Assisted birth at home requires the lower number of interventions for women, and therefore, its cost is lower. Experts describe that a safe home birth requires assistance by qualified midwives, who must offer truthful scientific information to women, so that they can make their own decision.
Conclusions: there is evidence, with currently available studies, of no increase in mother or newborn morbimortality in home birth, as long as there is a low-risk pregnancy, and it is assisted by qualified midwives. It is necessary to conduct randomized and controlled clinical trials in order to study the matter with further detail.

Keywords:

Home birth; hospital birth; mother mortality; newborn mortalitynarrative review

Versión en Español

Título:

Parto en casa versus parto hospitalario