Gesellschaft für Qualität in der außerklinischen Geburtshilfe e.V.
Association for Quality in Out-of-Hospital Births

 

Facts (in English)

 

Out-of-Hospital Birth Data (2005)

1. 10,003 out-of-hospital births were reported in Germany in 2005. This is estimated to be about 80% of all out-of- hospital births (the rest go unreported).
2. Out-of-hospital births accounted for about 2% of all births in 2005.
3. Out-of-hospital birth settings varied: 4,272 births took place in family home; 5,607 births occurred in midwife-led institutions like freestanding birth centres; and 124 births were reported in centres run by an obstetrician.
4. Data show that midwives offered intensive but not invasive care for mother and child.
5. Mothers-to-be and midwives carefully chose the suitable place of birth.

 

 

General data about 10,003 births originating out-of-hospital in 2005
First time mothers	36.8%
No particular problems in this pregnancy	89.9%
Transfer during birth	12.5%
Spontaneous birth	92.9%
Preferred birthing position	vertical
Intact perineum after vaginal birth	54.2% of all first time mothers
Third or fourth degree perinael tears	0.9%
C-section rate	5.0%
Intervention of any kind (e.g. amniotomy, drugs, or episiotomy)	30.2%
No problem after birth	95.0% of all mothers
Transfer after birth	1.6% of all mothers
5 minutes Apgar-score > 7	99.4% of all live-births
Morbidity (most frequently recorded): Breathing problems	1,15% of all children
Perinatal mortality	0.20% (= 2.0‰)

 

This data supports midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth as safe for mothers.

 

 

Who are we?

 

The „Gesellschaft für Qualität in der außerklinischen Geburtshilfe“ (QUAG e.V.) was founded by midwives in 1999. The aim of this association is to register and to document all out-of-hospital births in Germany and to research quality of care and antenatal health outcomes. Data reporting is optional, not all midwives in Germany participate.
For further information: Kontakt

 

 

German Out-Of-Hospital Birth Study

 

Origins of German Out-Of-Hospital Birth Study
Data from more than 40.000 births, collected over 5 years (2000 – 2004), is presented in the book. Also included are the discussions by leading midwives' of questions raised by the data set about quality of care and health outcomes. Seventeen of these questions are covered in detail.

 

Christine Loytved und Paul Wenzlaff 2007 Außerklinische Geburt in Deutschland – German Out-Of-Hospital Birth Study 2000 – 2004. Verlag Hans Huber, Bern

 

For further information, contact
Dr. rer. medic. Christine Loytved
Verwaltung der Professur
Gesundheits- und Krankheitslehre & Psychosomatik
Universitaet Osnabrueck
Albrechtstr. 28
D - 49 0 69 Osnabrueck
+541 / 969 2452
www.maternal-health.de
Christine.Loytved@uos.de

 

42,154 births originating out-of- hospital (in the years 2000-2004)
Sample of recommendations based on data presented in book:

 

> Pregnancy

> Birth

> Health of the Mother

> Health of the Baby

 

 

Impressum QUAG e.V. © 2010