Journal of Women's Health Care
Open Access

Abstract

Obstetric and Non-Obstetric Indications for Admission in the Antepartum and Postpartum Periods of Pregnancy

Thaddeus P. Waters and Jennifer L. Bailit

Objective: To determine the most common non-obstetric indications for admission during the antepartum and postpartum period of pregnancy.

Methods: This is a population-based investigation of the primary diagnoses for admission in the antepartum and postpartum periods of pregnancy. Data was obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s State Inpatient Database for the state of California for 2005. The frequency of each primary diagnosis was determined. Diagnoses were classified as obstetric or non-obstetric and compared for differences in maternal race, age and insurance provider.

Results: 576,846 total maternal admissions were identified with 35,158 antepartum (6.1%), 536,415 intrapartum (93.0%) and 5273 postpartum (0.9%). Overall, 26.6% of admissions were non-obstetric in nature. The most common non-obstetric indication for antenatal admission was urinary tract infections. The most common postpartum non-obstetric indication for admission was psychiatric/substance abuse disorders.

Conclusions: Many admissions during pregnancy are non-obstetric in nature and may be amenable to outpatient screening.