Table 5

Maternal postpartum complications by planned place of birth

Complication and planned place of birthNo. of eventsNo. of birthsIncidence of events/1000 birthsUnadjusted ORAdjusted OR*
Postpartum haemorrhage with blood transfusion65181 251 4205.2
 Hospital62301 171 7035.311
 Birth centre24471 5053.40.64 (0.54–0.76)0.66 (0.56–0.78)
 Home4482125.41.01 (0.68–1.49)1.08 (0.73–1.60)
Admission at least 48 hours to intensive care or high dependency unit†2602707 221‡3.7
 Hospital2521654 9603.811
 Birth centre7447 2661.60.41 (0.30–0.55)0.42 (0.31–0.56)
 Home749951.40.36 (0.14–0.96)0.41 (0.15–1.08)
Readmission to hospital (within 28 days)917864 865§1.1
 Hospital843804 667111
 Birth centre6854 5221.21.19 (0.86–1.65)1.18 (0.85–1.64)
 Home656761.11.01 (0.35–2.90)1.08 (0.38–3.12)
  • Cases with missing data were not included in rates or regression calculations .

  • *Logistic regression adjusted for maternal age, country of birth, gestational age and parity at 99% CI.

  • †Intensive care and high dependency units provided additional care—these were defined by each state and territory.

  • ‡Excluded QLD, VIC, NT, ACT, TAS.

  • §Excluded VIC, NT.

  • ACT, Australian Capital Territory; NT, Northern Territory; QLD, Queensland; TAS, Tasmania; VIC, Victoria.