Perinatal outcome in hospital and birth center obstetric care

Objective: Our purpose was to compare birth complications and fetal outcome in hospitals and birth centers. Method: We retrospectively compared all 801 deliveries between 1992 and 1994 from two free-standing birth centers against 3271 hospital deliveries in Berlin. The hospital collective was selected according to the same risk criteria of the birth centers. Results: The birth center group had significantly fewer medical interventions, with a similar cesarean section rate (3.0% vs. 4.6%, P=0.057) and occurrence of severe perineal lesions. The episiotomy rate was significantly higher (P