Rebecka Dalbye

Rebecka Dalbye serves as an Associate Professor at Oslo Metropolitan University's Faculty of Health Sciences within the Department of Nursing and Health Promotion. She holds dual appointments as program coordinator for the Masters Program in Midwifery and as a researcher at Østfold Hospital's Womens Clinic. Her institutional roles include Head of Studies for Area of Responsibility 1 and principal investigator for major clinical trials.

Dr. Dalbye earned her PhD from OsloMet in 2019, followed by a Master's degree in Reproductive and Perinatal Health from the University of Gothenburg (2010). Her academic journey reflects a specialized focus on evidence-based obstetric care and midwifery science.

Her research primarily investigates labor progression dynamics and the de-medicalization of childbirth, with particular emphasis on reducing unnecessary interventions during normal birth processes. Current projects include the Norwegian WHO Labour Care Guide trial (NORWELCG) as principal investigator, the LISTEN project on fetal monitoring in low-risk pregnancies, and research on long-term postpartum anal incontinence following obstetric anal sphincter injuries. Her work consistently addresses the tension between evidence-based practice and routine over-medicalization in obstetric care.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals strong thematic continuity in optimizing labor management through evidence-based guidelines. Her research demonstrates methodological rigor through large-scale randomized controlled trials (including the Lancet-published LAPS study involving over 7000 women) and focuses on measurable outcomes including cesarean section rates, perineal trauma, and women's childbirth experiences. The Norwegian WHO Labour Care Guide trial represents her current flagship project evaluating WHO recommendations within Norway's healthcare context.

As an educator, Dalbye mentors midwifery students and leads the Masters Program in Midwifery at OsloMet. Her clinical research directly informs educational practices, bridging the gap between academic theory and clinical application in maternal healthcare.

Her research activities are organized through OsloMet's Midwifery Sciences research group, collaborating with major Norwegian hospitals including Østfold Hospital Trust. These interdisciplinary teams integrate clinical practice, academic research, and educational development to advance evidence-based maternity care across the Norwegian healthcare system.