Primiparity: A traditional intrapartum obstetric risk reconfirmed

Background: Intrapartum risk is based mainly on obstetric history, which is lacking in primiparous women. Objectives: To ascertain whether the traditional known risk of primiparity is an independent variable for both maternal and neonatal outcome. Methods: All women admitted to labor during March-April 2002 were canvassed for eligibility to participate in the study based on an obstetric risk scoring system developed and validated for our population. During the study period, 1473 women presented for delivery. Of these, 298 (20%) were eligible according to the exclusion criteria as "low risk" parturients: 135 (45%) were primiparous and 163 (55%) were multiparous (2-5 births). Results: After correction for significant confounding factors, primiparity was revealed as an independent significant risk factor for instrumental delivery (odds ratio 15.5, 95%confidence interval 1.88-125) and for early postpartum hemorrhage (OR 5.6, 95%CI 1.9-16.6). Conclusions: This study highlights early postpartum hemorrhage as a significant risk for primiparous women, independent of mode of delivery, and also confirms previous reports of maternal complications requiring transfer from birth centers/home deliveries to tertiary centers.