RT Journal Article T1 Association between Birth Plan Use and Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Southern Spain: A Case-Control Study. A1 Hidalgo-Lopezosa, Pedro A1 Cubero-Luna, Ana Maria A1 Jimenez-Ruz, Andrea A1 Hidalgo-Maestre, Maria A1 Rodriguez-Borrego, Maria Aurora A1 Lopez-Soto, Pablo Jesus K1 Birth plan K1 Maternal and child health K1 Natural childbirth K1 Newborn AB Birth plans are used for pregnant women to express their wishes and expectations about childbirth. The aim of this study was to compare obstetric and neonatal outcomes between women with and without birth plans. A multicentre, retrospective case-control study at tertiary hospitals in southern Spain between 2009 and 2013 was conducted. A total of 457 pregnant women were included, 178 with and 279 without birth plans. Women with low-risk gestation, at full-term and having been in labour were included. Sociodemographic, obstetric and neonatal variables were analysed and comparisons were established. Women with birth plans were older, more educated and more commonly primiparous. Caesarean sections were less common in primiparous women with birth plans (18% vs. 29%, p = 0.027); however, no significant differences were found in instrumented births, 3rd-4th-degree tears or episiotomy rates. Newborns of primiparous women with birth plans obtained better results on 1 min Apgar scores, umbilical cord pH and advanced neonatal resuscitation. No significant differences were found on 5 min Apgar scores or other variables for multiparous women. Birth plans were related to less intervention, a more natural process of birth and better outcomes for mothers and newborns. Birth plans can improve the welfare of the mother and newborn, leading to birth in a more natural way. PB MDPI YR 2021 FD 2021-01-05 LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/16954 UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/16954 LA en NO Hidalgo-Lopezosa P, Cubero-Luna AM, Jiménez-Ruz A, Hidalgo-Maestre M, Rodríguez-Borrego MA, López-Soto PJ. Association between Birth Plan Use and Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Southern Spain: A Case-Control Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 8;18(2):456 DS RISalud RD Apr 9, 2025