Rebecka Dalbye

About

I am Professor of Midwifery at OsloMet and a researcher at Østfold Hospital Trust. With a background in clinical practice, I combine research, teaching and academic leadership. I qualified as a midwife at the University of Gothenburg, where I also completed my master’s degree, and earned my PhD at OsloMet in 2019.

My research focuses on labour progression and clinical guidelines, the quality and organisation of intrapartum care, and women’s childbirth experiences. I investigate how clinical decisions, interventions and models of care affect outcomes for mothers and babies. Key topics include labour progression, oxytocin use, fetal monitoring and continuous support during labour. My aim is to contribute to evidence-based, woman-centred care.

I currently lead The Norwegian WHO Labour Care Guide Trial (NORWELCG), a national multicentre, stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial conducted at ten Norwegian obstetric units. The study evaluates the effects of the WHO Labour Care Guide on birth outcomes and women’s childbirth experiences. Data collection is complete, with more than 36,000 women included. Funded by the Research Council of Norway and the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, the project provides the basis for several PhD projects and master’s theses.

My doctoral research was part of The Labour Progression Study (LaPS), which compared two guidelines for labour progression in a multicentre cluster-randomised trial at 14 Norwegian obstetric units. The primary results were published in The Lancet, where I was joint first author.

Through LaPS and NORWELCG, I have gained extensive experience in planning, implementing and conducting large multicentre clinical trials, as well as analysing data and disseminating findings. I also participate in a Nordic research network focusing on over- and undermedicalisation of maternity care, with the aim of promoting appropriate use of interventions and supporting physiological childbirth. Within this network, we also study midwifery students’ competence and how education can prepare them to provide evidence-based care tailored to individual needs.

My motivation is to produce rigorous research that provides a sound basis for decisions in maternity care. I value an objective and critical approach, in which clinical practice and professional recommendations are assessed in light of new research findings.

As programme coordinator for the master’s programme in midwifery, I work to strengthen its academic development, quality and coherence. I teach and supervise students at master’s and PhD levels.

Field of study

Midwifery Randomized controlled studies Intrapartum caesarean section De-medicalization of childbirth Perineal tears trauma Women's childbirth experience

Research groups

Midwifery Sciences

Research projects

Ongoing research projects

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.
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).
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

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.

Scientific publications

Søndergaard, S. R.; Husted, M.; Hansen, M. L.; Rydahl, E.; Juhl, M.; Dalbye, Rebecka ; Swift, E. M.; Ulfsdottir, H.; Gottfredsdottir, H.; Elvander, C.; Blix, Ellen ; Maimburg, R. D. (2026). Midwifery students' well-being and perceived clinical competences at time of graduation – A Danish cross-sectional study. Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare. Vol. 49.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101263

Husby, Anne Engtrø; Simpson, Melanie Rae; Dalbye, Rebecka ; Løvvik, Tone Shetelig; Vanky, Eszter Ilona (2026). Exclusive breastfeeding among women with polycystic ovary syndrome versus women from a population-based cohort: a cohort study. International Breastfeeding Journal. Vol. 21.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-026-00843-8

Swift, Emma; Elvander, Charlotte; Blix, Ellen ; Gissler, Mika; Murto, Tiina; Maimburg, Rikke Damkjær; Dalbye, Rebecka ; Gottfreðsdóttir, Helga; Nielsen, Kamilla Groenemeijer; Ulfsdottir, Hanna; Rydahl, Eva (2026). Birth interventions and outcomes among first time mothers: A population-based register study in four Nordic countries. Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare. Vol. 47.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101185

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

See all publications

These publications are obtained from Norwegian Research Information Repository. The list may be incomplete.