About
Rebecka Dalbye is a Professor at the Masters Program in Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences at OsloMet, and a researcher at the Womens Clinic, Østfold Hospital. Dalbye conducted a national multicenter cluster-randomized trial involving over 7000 women for her doctoral project, publishing the main results in The Lancet in 2019. The research project focused on labor progression and optimizing care to reduce cesarean section and unnecessary interventions during childbirth. From 2023, she is the principal investigator (PI) for the Norwegian WHO Labour Care Guide trial: a stepwedge multicenter cluster-randomized study to evaluate WHOs Labour Care Guide at ten hospitals in Norway.
Her research interest focus on labour progression. Furthermore, the practice of routine over-medicalization of normal pregnancy and childbirth, which includes the unnecessary or incorrect use of non-evidence-based interventions, is of particular interest.
At OsloMet, Dalbye is the program coordinator for the Masters Program in Midwifery, where she also mentors students.
She holds a PhD from OsloMet (2019), and a Master degree in Reproductive and Perinatal Health from the University of Gothenburg (2010).
Field of study
Midwifery Randomized controlled studies Intrapartum caesarean section De-medicalization of childbirth Perineal tears trauma Women's childbirth experience
Research groups
Research projects
Ongoing research projects
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Fetal monitoring in women with low risk of complications (LISTEN)
The project mainly performs research about fetal monitoring during labour and birth, in healthy women with low risk of complications.
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Long-term postpartum anal incontinence – prevalence, risk factors and effect of conservative management
The aim of this PhD project is to optimize postpartum care following obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI).
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The Norwegian WHO Labour Care Guide trial (NORWELCG)
The Norwegian WHO LCG trial aims to uncover the impact of the LCG on labor interventions, maternal and newborn outcomes, and the childbirth experience, all tailored to Norway's unique healthcare system.
Completed research projects
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Birth experiences and breastfeeding in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
The overall aim of the project is to explore childbirth experience and breastfeeding in women with PCOS.
-
The Labour Progression Study (LAPS)
Our main aim was to investigate clinical consequences when using two different guidelines for assessing labour progression in order to reduce the caesarean section rate without jeopardizing the mother's or child's health.
Publications and research
Scientific publications
Rozsa, Daniella Judit; Sande, Ragnar;
Bernitz, Stine
; Dalen, Ingvild; Braut, Geir Sverre; Øian, Pål; Eggebø, Torbjørn Moe;
Dalbye, Rebecka
(2025).
Associations between sociodemographic and obstetric factors, and childbirth experience.
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.
Vol. 104.
https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.15076
Aanstad, Kristin Jerve
;
Pripp, Are Hugo
;
Dalbye, Rebecka
;
Pay, Aase Serine Devold
; Staff, Anne Cathrine; Kaasen, Anne;
Blix, Ellen
(2024).
Intrapartum fetal monitoring practices in Norway: A population-based study.
Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare.
Vol. 41.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2024.101006
Husby, Anne Engtrø; Simpson, Melanie Rae;
Dalbye, Rebecka
; Larsen, Marit; Vanky, Eszter Ilona; Løvvik, Tone Shetelig
(2024).
Childbirth experiences in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A cohort study.
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.
Vol. 103.
https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14800
Bernitz, Stine
; Betran, Ana Pilar; Gunnes, Nina; Zhang, Jun;
Blix, Ellen
; Øian, Pål; Eggebø, Torbjørn Moe;
Dalbye, Rebecka
(2023).
Association of oxytocin augmentation and duration of labour with postpartum haemorrhage: A cohort study of nulliparous women.
Midwifery.
Vol. 123.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2023.103705
Buerengen, Therese;
Bernitz, Stine
; Øian, Pål;
Dalbye, Rebecka
(2022).
Association between one-to-one midwifery care in the active phase of labour and use of pain relief and birth outcomes: A cohort of nulliparous women.
Midwifery.
Vol. 110.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2022.103341
Dalbye, Rebecka
; Johannessen, Hege Hølmo
(2022).
Two midwives during the second stage of labour to reduce severe perineal trauma.
The Lancet.
Vol. 399.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00381-6
Stafne, Signe Nilssen;
Dalbye, Rebecka
; Kristiansen, Oda Margrete; Hjelle, Yvonne Enger; Salvesen, Kjell Å; Mørkved, Siv; Johannessen, Hege Hølmo
(2021).
Antenatal pelvic floor muscle training and urinary incontinence: A randomized controlled 7-year follow up study.
International Urogynecology Journal.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-021-05028-x
Dalbye, Inger Sofie Rebecka
; Aursund, Ingvill; Volent, Veronika; Eggebø, Torbjørn Moe; Øian, Pal;
Bernitz, Stine
(2021).
Associations between duration of active second stage of labour and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes: A cohort study of nulliparous women with spontaneous onset of labour.
Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare.
Vol. 30.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2021.100657
Rozsa, Daniella Judit;
Dalbye, Rebecka
;
Bernitz, Stine
;
Blix, Ellen
; Dalen, Ingvild; Braut, Geir Sverre; Eggebø, Torbjørn Moe; Øian, Pål; Sande, Ragnar
(2021).
The effect of Zhang’s guideline versus the WHO partograph on childbirth experience measured by the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire in the Labor Progression Study (LaPS): A cluster randomized trial.
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.
https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14298
Gjærum, Ragnhild; Johansen, Ingvild; Øian, Pål;
Bernitz, Stine
;
Dalbye, Rebecka
(2021).
Associations between cervical dilatation on admission and mode of delivery, a cohort study of Norwegian nulliparous women.
Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare.
Vol. 31.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2021.100691
