Continuous care during labor by maternity care assistants in the Netherlands versus care-as-usual - a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Continuous support during labor has many benefits, including lower use of obstetrical interventions. However, implementation remains limited. Insights into birth outcomes as well as peripartum costs are essential to assess whether continuous care by a maternity care assistant is a potentially (cost) effective program to provide for all women. OBJECTIVE: Continuous care during labor, provided by maternity care assistants, will reduce the use of epidural analgesia and peripartum costs due to a reduction in interventions. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial, comparing continuo... Mehr ...