eMJA: In other journals - 4 November 2002

A 1995 Cochrane review concluded that providing women with continuous caregiver support during labour decreases the chance of caesarean delivery — an expensive prospect which North American researchers decided to test in their own environment of high intervention rates. Over two years, 6915 women from 13 hospitals with caesarean rates of > 15% were randomly allocated to receive continuous support from a specifically trained nurse or usual care. There was no difference in the rates of caesarean delivery between groups (12.5% v 12.6%). Neonatal and maternal outcomes (including the rates of postnatal depression at 6–8 weeks) were also similar.