The aim of VeCaS is to collect and interpret data from midwifery practices so it can be used to provide appropriate care for low-risk pregnant women (the healthy pregnant population). Participating midwifery practices collect data on pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period for each woman in a digital record. A guideline has been developed for recording this data to ensure that it is registered correctly and consistently. With data on the normal course of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, VeCaS can contribute to addressing questions that arise in midwifery practice. Questions being explored include: What is the typical blood pressure pattern during pregnancy? What is the weight gain during pregnancy for women in different BMI categories? And is a higher BMI an independent predictor of increased healthcare use during pregnancy?
VeCaS is a collaborative partnership between the Academie voor Verloskunde Maastricht and the Academie voor Verloskunde Amsterdam Groningen.
Primary care midwifery practices collect a large amount of information daily in their registration systems about pregnancies, births, and the postpartum period. Some of this information is collected in the national registration system Perined, but much of it is not used for research. Examples include the work situation of the pregnant woman and her partner, the course of prenatal consultations including blood pressure, weight, urine tests, fetal position and growth, contact moments during labor, and the physical and psychological recovery of the mother during the postpartum period. These specific data can offer valuable insights into the course of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period-provided they are reported consistently and reliably.
In addition to being used for research, the data can also provide greater insight into the performance of one's own practice and region.
