Clapp MA, et al. - In this retrospective cross-sectional study, performed using data collected as part of the Consortium for Safe Labor study, researchers investigated the relative effects of patient characteristics and intrapartum events on unexpected neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions, and determined the between-hospital variation in NICU admission rates among this group of neonates. They identified 143,951 infants who met all patient and hospital inclusion criteria; 7,995 of these (5.6%) were admitted to the NICU after birth. Findings revealed the existence of significant variation in hospital “unexpected” NICU admission rates and the association of certain intrapartum events with an increased risk for NICU admission after delivery. However, a low between-hospital variation was evident. Nulliparity, large for gestational age, and small for gestational age were the factors associated with the highest odds for NICU admission. Higher odds of NICU admission were evident in correlation with events such as prolonged second stage, chorioamnionitis, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and abruption. Compared to women who did not labor, women who labored had lower odds of NICU admission. These findings may enhance the current understanding regarding the term, NICU admission rates as a marker of obstetrical care quality.