ABSTRACT
Nowadays, women want a more intimate and familiar atmosphere during labour, which results in increased planned home birth rates. Every woman has the autonomy to decide where she will give birth; however, it is important that she is informed of risks and advantages beforehand. Home births can be distinguished between planned and unplanned home births. Planned home births can be conducted by professional birth attendants (licensed midwives) or birth assistants (doulas, etc). The rates of Slovenian women who decided to deliver at home are increasing year by year. Researches on home births still present discordant data about home birth safety. Their findings have shown that the main advantage of home birth is a spontaneous birth without medical interventions, especially in multiparous low-risk women. The main disadvantage, however, is a higher risk for neonatal death, in particular on occurrence of complications requiring a transfer to hospital and surgical intervention. Global guidelines emphasize careful selection of candidates suitable for home birth, well-informed pregnant women, education of birth attendants, and strict formation of transfer indications.
Subject(s)
Home Childbirth , Delivery, Obstetric/methods , Delivery, Obstetric/statistics & numerical data , Emergency Medical Services , Female , Government Regulation , Home Childbirth/legislation & jurisprudence , Home Childbirth/standards , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Outcome , SloveniaABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the outcome of frozen-thawed blastocysts derived from the cycles using controlled ovarian stimulation with GnRH agonists vs. GnRH antagonists. METHODS: Survival, pregnancy and cumulative live birth rates in 231 freeze-thaw cycles derived from the GnRH agonist cycles (GnRH agonist group), and in 175 freeze-thaw cycles derived from the GnRH antagonist cycles (GnRH antagonist group) were compared. RESULTS: In the GnRH agonist group significantly higher proportion of blastocysts survived the thawing procedure than in the GnRH antagonist group (86.1% versus 78.5%; p < 0.01). The differences in cumulative live birth rates did not differ significantly between the groups: in the GnRH agonist group the cumulative live birth rate was 16.5%, and in the GnRH antagonist group it was 14.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Frozen-thawed blastocysts derived from the GnRH agonist cycles have better survival rates and similar cumulative live birth rates than those derived from the GnRH antagonist cycles.