Is maternal posturing during labor efficient in preventing persistent occiput posterior position? A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

We sought to evaluate the efficacy of maternal posturing during labor on the prevention of persistent occiput posterior (OP) position. We conducted a randomized trial including 220 patients in labor with a single fetus in documented OP position. Main outcome was the proportion of anterior rotation from OP position. The rates of anterior rotation were, respectively, 78.2% and 76.4% in the intervention group and the control group without significant difference (P = .748). Rates of instrumental and cesarean section deliveries were not significantly different between intervention and control groups (18.2% vs. 19.1%, P = .89, and 19.1% vs. 17.3%, P = .73, respectively). In intervention and control groups, persistent OP position rates were significantly higher among women who had cesarean section (71.4% and 89.5%, respectively) and an instrumental delivery (25% and 33.3%, respectively) than among women who achieved spontaneous vaginal birth (5.8% and 2.8%, respectively). In multivariable analysis, body mass index and parity were found to have significant and independent impact on the probability of fetal head rotation. Our study failed to demonstrate any maternal or neonatal benefit to a policy of maternal posturing for the management of OP position during labor.