Table 2 Pregnancy and birth characteristics of the respondents compared to National perinatal registry data, year 2019

Singleton or multiple pregnancy

Singleton pregnancy

11,989 (98.0)

159,213 (98.5)

p < 0.001

Multiple pregnancy

250 (2.0)

2477 (1.5)

Responsible care provider at onset of pregnancy

Midwife-led care

10,347 (84.5)

138,498 (86.3)

p < 0.001

Obstetrician-led care

1855 (15.2)

21,975 (13.7)

General practitioner

26 (0.1)

Other

11 (0.1)

Planned place of birth one month prior to birth

Midwife-led care at home

3563 (29.1)

Midwife-led care in a birth centre

1209 (9.9)

Midwife-led care in a the hospital

4476 (36.6)

Obstetrician-led care in the hospital

2744 (22.4)

Hadn’t decided yet

247 (2.0)

Birth plan prepared

Yes

7861 (64.2)

No

4378 (35.8)

Responsible care provider at onset of labour

Midwife-led care

7342 (60.0)

77,801 (48.6)

p < 0.001

Obstetrician-led care

4877 (39.8)

82,354 (51.4)

General practitioner

20 (0.2)

No care provider

2 (0.0)

Onset of labour

Spontaneous

8204 (67.0)

104,906 (67.0)

p < 0.001

Spontaneous rupture of membranes, followed by an induction with tablets or oxytocin

436 (3.6)

39,050 (25.0)

Rupture of membranes to induce labour

728 (5.9)

Induction of labour with tablets/foley catheter/oxytocin

2149 (17.6)

Caesarean section

722 (5.9)

12,460 (8.0)

Unplanned transfer from midwife-led care to obstetrician-led care

Yes

3239 (44.0)

34,535 (44.4)

p < 0.398

No

4123 (56.0)

43,266 (55.6)

Mode of birth

Spontaneous vaginal birth

7613 (62.2)

118,823 (76.5)

p < 0.001

Spontaneous vaginal birth with episiotomy

1463 (12.0)

Vacuum or forceps delivery

1156 (9.4)

11,240 (7.2)

Attempted vacuum or forceps, followed by a caesarean section

113 (0.9)

12,962 (8.3)

Unplanned caesarean section

1244 (10.2)

Planned caesarean section

650 (5.3)

12,460 (8.0)

Pharmacological pain relief

No pharmacological pain relief

7451 (64.3)

93,334 (57.7)

p < 0.001

Epidural

2619 (22.6)

68,386 (42.3)

Remifentanil

1100 (9.5)

Epidural and remifentanil

171 (1.5)

Other

200 (1.7)

Epidural and ‘other’

30 (0.3)

Remifentanil and ‘other’

6 (0.1)

Epidural, remifentanil and ‘other’

5 (0.0)

Missing

657

Anesthesia during caesarean section

Spinal, epidural or combined spinal/epidural (CSE)

1839 (91.6)

General anesthesia

168 (8.4)

Actual place of birth

Midwife-led care at home

2486 (20.3)

20,487 (12.7)

p < 0.001

Midwife-led care at birth centre

480 (3.9)

4241 (2.6)

Midwife-led care at the hospital

1405 (11.5)

19,309 (11.9)

Obstetrician-led care at the hospital

7866 (64.3)

117,516 (72.7)

Other

2 (0.0)

155 (0.1)

Gestational age at birth

< 37 + 0

723 (5.9)

10,030 (6.2)

p < 0.001

37 + 0–38 + 6

2392 (19.6)

37,464 (23.2)

39 + 0–40 + 6

6410 (52.5)

85,341 (52.9)

41 + 0–41 + 6

2268 (18.6)

28,468 (17.7)

> 42 + 0

418 (3.4)

11 (0.0)

Missing

28

Before or during COVID-19 pandemic

2015–February 2020 (prior COVID-19 pandemic)

8363 (68.3)

March–December 2020 (during COVID-19 pandemic)

3876 (31.7)

Care providers present during birth

Community midwife

5236 (42.8)

Hospital based midwife

5408 (44.2)

Obstetric registrars and/or obstetrician

5759 (47.1)

Maternity care assistant

2997 (24.5)

Nurse

6684 (54.6)

Paediatrician

2121 (17.3)

Anaesthesiologist

1943 (15.9)

Care provider in training/student

2932 (24.0)

Other

68 (0.6)

Other individuals present during birth

Partner

11,922 (97.4)

Other parent(s) of baby (non-partners)

16 (0.1)

Mother (in law)

902 (7.4)

Father (in law)

42 (0.3)

Child (ren)

81 (0.7)

Sister(s)

275 (2.3)

Brother(s)

11 (0.1)

Other family members

25 (0.2)

Friend(s)

164 (1.3)

Doula

127 (1.0)

Birth photographer

120 (1.0)

Others in care capacity

2 (0.0)