Cohort Study Of Nulliparous Women Research Articles

Prospective Validation of First-Trimester Screening for Preterm Preeclampsia in Nulliparous Women (PREDICTION Study).

Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) studies suggest that preterm preeclampsia can be predicted in the first trimester by combining biophysical, biochemical, and ultrasound markers and prevented using aspirin. We aimed to evaluate the FMF preterm preeclampsia screening test in nulliparous women. We conducted a prospective multicenter cohort study of nulliparous women recruited at 11 to 14 weeks. Maternal characteristics, mean arterial blood pressure, PAPP-A (pregnancy-associated plasma protein A), PlGF (placental growth factor) in maternal blood, and uterine artery pulsatility index were collected at recruitment. The risk of preterm preeclampsia was calculated by a third party blinded to pregnancy outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to estimate the detection rate (sensitivity) and the false-positive rate (1-specificity) for preterm (<37 weeks) and for early-onset (<34 weeks) preeclampsia according to the FMF screening test and according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists criteria. We recruited 7554 participants including 7325 (97%) who remained eligible after 20 weeks of which 65 (0.9%) developed preterm preeclampsia, and 22 (0.3%) developed early-onset preeclampsia. Using the FMF algorithm (cutoff of ≥1 in 110 for preterm preeclampsia), the detection rate was 63.1% for preterm preeclampsia and 77.3% for early-onset preeclampsia at a false-positive rate of 15.8%. Using the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists criteria, the equivalent detection rates would have been 61.5% and 59.1%, respectively, for a false-positive rate of 34.3%. The first-trimester FMF preeclampsia screening test predicts two-thirds of preterm preeclampsia and three-quarters of early-onset preeclampsia in nulliparous women, with a false-positive rate of ≈16%. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02189148.

Measuring resilience and stress during pregnancy and its relation to vulnerability and pregnancy outcomes in a nulliparous cohort study

BackgroundResilience reflects coping with pregnancy-specific stress, including physiological adaptations of the maternal organism or factors arising from the socioeconomic context, such as low income, domestic violence, drug and alcohol use, lack of a support network and other vulnerability characteristics. Resilience is a dynamic characteristic that should be comparatively evaluated within a specific context; its association with perceived stress and social vulnerability during pregnancy is still not fully understood. This study aimed at exploring maternal resilience, perceived stress and social vulnerability during pregnancy and its associated factors and outcomes.MethodsProspective multicenter cohort study of nulliparous women in Brazil determining resilience (Resilience Scale; RS) and stress (Perceived Stress Scale; PSS) at 28 weeks of gestation (± 1 week). Resilience and stress scores were compared according to sociodemographic characteristics related to maternal/perinatal outcomes and social vulnerability, defined as having low level of education, being adolescent, without a partner or ethnicity other than white.ResultsWe included 383 women who completed the RS and PSS instruments. Most women showed low resilience scores (median: 124.0; IQR 98–143). Women with a low resilience score (RS < 125) were more likely from the Northeast region, adolescents, other than whites, did not study or work, had a low level of education, low family income and received public antenatal care. Higher scores of perceived stress were shown in the Northeast, other than whites, at low levels of education, low annual family income and public antenatal care. Pregnant women with low resilience scores (n = 198) had higher perceived stress scores (median = 28) and at least one vulnerability criterion (n = 181; 91.4%).ConclusionOur results reinforce the role of resilience in protecting women from vulnerability and perceived stress. It may prevent complications and build a positive experience during pregnancy.

Neighborhood Income Mobility and Risk of Neonatal and Maternal Morbidity

Residing in a low-income neighborhood is generally associated with worse pregnancy outcomes. It is not known if moving from a low- to higher-income area between 2 pregnancies alters the risk of adverse birth outcomes in the subsequent birth compared with women who remain in low-income areas for both births. To compare the risk of adverse maternal and newborn outcomes among women who achieved upward area-level income mobility vs those who did not. This population-based cohort study was completed in Ontario, Canada, from 2002 to 2019, where there is universal health care. Included were all nulliparous women with a first-time singleton birth at 20 to 42 weeks' gestation, each residing in a low-income urban neighborhood at the time of the first birth. All women were then assessed at their second birth. Statistical analysis was conducted from August 2022 to April 2023. Movement from a lowest-income quintile (Q1) neighborhood to any higher-income quintile neighborhood (Q2-Q5) between the first and second birth. The maternal outcome was severe maternal morbidity or mortality (SMM-M) at the second birth hospitalization or up to 42 days post partum. The primary perinatal outcome was severe neonatal morbidity or mortality (SNM-M) within 27 days of the second birth. Relative risks (aRR) and absolute risk differences (aARD) were estimated by adjusting for maternal and infant characteristics. A total of 42 208 (44.1%) women (mean [SD] age at second birth, 30.0 [5.2] years) experienced upward area-level income mobility, and 53 409 (55.9%) women (age at second birth, 29.0 [5.4] years) remained in income Q1 between births. Relative to women who remained in income Q1 between births, those with upward mobility had a lower associated risk of SMM-M (12.0 vs 13.3 per 1000 births), with an aRR of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.78 to 0.93) and aARD of -2.09 per 1000 (95% CI, -3.1 to -0.9 per 1000 ). Likewise, their newborns experienced lower respective rates of SNM-M (48.0 vs 50.9 per 1000 live births), with an aRR of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.87 to 0.95) and aARD of -4.7 per 1000 (95% CI, -6.8 to -2.6 per 1000). In this cohort study of nulliparous women living in low-income areas, those who moved to a higher-income area between births experienced less morbidity and death in their second pregnancy, as did their newborns, compared with those who remained in low-income areas between births. Research is needed to determine whether financial incentives or enhancement of neighborhood factors can reduce adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Association of oxytocin augmentation and duration of labour with postpartum haemorrhage: A cohort study of nulliparous women

ObjectiveBoth duration of labour and use of oxytocin for augmentation are known risk factors for postpartum haemorrhage but distinguishing between the significance of these factors is complex. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between both labour duration and oxytocin augmentation, for postpartum haemorrhage. DesignA cohort study based on a secondary analysis of a cluster-randomised trial. Participants and settingTerm nulliparous women with a single foetus in cephalic presentation, spontaneous onset of active labour and a vaginal birth. The participants were originally included in cluster-randomised trial conducted in Norway from December 1, 2014, to January 31, 2017, that aimed to compare the frequency of intrapartum caesarean sections when adhering to the WHO partograph versus Zhang's guideline. MeasurementsThe data were analysed through four statistical models. Model 1 investigated the effect of oxytocin augmentation as a dichotomous variable (yes/no); Model 2 investigated the effect of the duration of oxytocin augmentation; Model 3 investigated the effect of the maximum dose of oxytocin; and Model 4 investigated the effect of both the duration of augmentation and the maximum dose of oxytocin. All four models included duration of labour divided into five time-intervals. We used binary logistic regression to estimate the odds ratios of postpartum haemorrhage, defined as blood loss of ≥ 1000 ml, including a random intercept for hospital and mutually adjusting for oxytocin augmentation and labour duration in addition to maternal age, maternal marital status, maternal higher education level, maternal smoking habits in the first trimester, maternal body mass index and birth weight. FindingsModel 1 found a significant association between the use of oxytocin and postpartum haemorrhage. In Model 2, oxytocin augmentation of ≥ 4.5 h was associated with postpartum haemorrhage. In Model 3, we found an association between a maximum dose of oxytocin of ≥ 20 mU/min and postpartum haemorrhage. Model 4 showed that a maximum dose of oxytocin ≥ 20 mU/min was associated with postpartum haemorrhage both for those augmented < 4.5 h and for those augmented ≥ 4.5 h. Duration of labour was associated with postpartum haemorrhage in all models if lasting ≥ 16 h. Key conclusionsWe found both oxytocin augmentation and labour duration to be associated with postpartum haemorrhage. Oxytocin doses of ≥ 20 mU/min and a labour duration of ≥ 16 h showed an independent association. Implication for practiceThe potent drug oxytocin should be carefully administered, as doses of ≥ 20 mU/min were associated with an increased risk of PPH, regardless of the duration of oxytocin augmentation.

Mode of delivery and birth outcomes in relation to the duration of the passive second stage of labour: A retrospective cohort study of nulliparous women.

To investigate the mode of delivery and birth outcomes in relation to the duration of the passive second stage of labour in nulliparous women. A retrospective cohort study of all nulliparous women (n = 1131) at two delivery units in Sweden. Maternal and obstetric data were obtained from electronic medical records during 2019. The passive second stage was defined as the complete dilation of the cervix until the start of the active second stage. The duration of the passive second stage was categorized into three groups: 0 to 119 min (0 to <2 h), 120-239 min (2- <4h) and ≥240 min (≥4h). Differences between the groups were examined using t-test and Chi2-tests and regression analyses were used to analyse adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals. The primary outcome was mode of delivery in relation to the duration of the passive second stage and the secondary outcomes covered a series of adverse maternal and neonatal birth outcomes. The rates of instrumental and caesarean deliveries increased as the duration of the passive second stage increased. A ≥4-hour duration of the passive second stage was associated with a nine-times increased risk of caesarean section, and a four-times risk of instrumental delivery compared to a duration of <2 hours in the adjusted analyses. No differences were found in the maternal birth outcomes. The risk of a 5-minute Apgar score <7 was increased in the 2-<4h group. A longer passive second stage was not associated with an increased risk of negative birth experience. Our study demonstrates an increased risk of operative delivery for a longer duration (>2h) of the passive second stage in nulliparous women, although most of the women gave birth by spontaneous vaginal delivery even after ≥4 hours. There was no evidence of an increased risk of adverse maternal outcomes in a longer duration of the passive second stage but there were indications of increased adverse neonatal outcomes. Assessment of fetal well-being is important when the duration of the passive phase is prolonged.

Sickness absence and disability pension three years before and seven years after first childbirth: A Swedish population-based cohort study.

There is a widely held belief, in Sweden and internationally, that women with children are more likely to be on sickness absence (SA) than their nulliparous counterparts. However, empirical findings in the field are limited and inconsistent. We aimed to explore initially nulliparous women's patterns of SA and disability pension (DP) three years before and seven years after 2009, by later parity. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of nulliparous women in Sweden on 31 December 2009 (N=426,918). We compared crude and standardized numbers of SA/DP net days in the three years before (Y-3 to Y-1) and the seven years (Y+1 to Y+7) after the date of the first birth in 2010 or 2 July 2010 in the following three groups: (1) women with no childbirth during the seven-year follow-up and an additional nine months (i.e. 7.8 years), (2) women with a first childbirth in 2010 and no additional childbirth during the next 7.8 years, and (3) women with their first childbirth in 2010 and minimum one more during the next 7.8 years. Women remaining nulliparous had consistently more standardized mean SA/DP days than women giving birth. Compared with women with one birth, women with several births had similar mean numbers of standardized SA/DP days during Y-3 and Y-2, more during Y+1 to Y+3 and fewer during Y+4 to Y+7. In contrast to the widely held societal belief, we found that in all years women who gave birth had fewer SA/DP days than those remaining nulliparous.

Cardiovascular mortality risk a decade after twin and singleton pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

To describe the cardiovascular mortality (CVM) risk in women after twin versus singleton pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Retrospective cohort study of nulliparous women with a twin or singleton pregnancy who delivered in the Netherlands between 1995 and 2015. We used data of the Perinatal Registry of the Netherlands and data of the National Death Registry to determine baseline data, the occurrence of HDP and CVM. In the two main analyses we compared twin pregnancies complicated by HDP to 1) singleton pregnancies complicated by HDP and 2) uncomplicated twin pregnancies (i.e. without HDP) of women who delivered within a hospital setting. CVM risk using cox-proportional hazard models, adjusted for maternal age (aHR). 1,243,231 nulliparous women were included, of which 30,623 (2.5%) had a twin and 1,212,608 (97.5%) had a singleton pregnancy. A total of 9,853 (32.2%) twin pregnancies were complicated by HDP, versus 249,141 (20.6%) singleton pregnancies (p<0.0001). Within the HDP twin cohort, 14/73 (19.2%) maternal deaths were due to cardiovascular causes, versus 335/1,788 (18.7%) in the HDP singleton cohort and 10/117 (8.6%) in the uncomplicated twin cohort. The corresponding aHR was 2.85 (95% CI 1.26-6.41; p=0.01) for the HDP twin versus the uncomplicated twin cohort, and 1.05 (95% CI 0.62-1.80; p=0.85) for the HDP twin versus the HDP singleton cohort. Women after both twin and singleton pregnancies complicated by HDP are at a similarly increased risk of CVM later in life.

Maternal Body Mass Index and Risk of Obstetric, Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes: A Cohort Study of Nulliparous Women With Spontaneous Onset of Labor

(Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2021;100:521–530. doi: 10.1111/aogs.14017. Epub November 27, 2020) Worldwide obesity and body mass index (BMI) have dramatically increased in the past few decades. As obesity can increase risk for serious health problems, understanding its impact on pregnancy and delivery is essential to improve patient care, labor outcomes, and health outcomes. Despite past work, there is still a need for studies examining impact of BMI on nulliparous women versus multiparous women and on induced and spontaneous onset of labor. This study focuses on nulliparous women with a singleton fetus in cephalic presentation with spontaneous onset of labor at term within the Ten-Group Classification System (TGCS) group 1. The aim of this study was to analyze those within TGCS group 1 and investigate the relational effect of early-pregnancy maternal BMI and obstetric, maternal, and neonatal outcomes.

Cervical ripening with multiple medical or combined induction methods: Risks of subsequent preterm birth in nulliparous women.

To determine the impact of combined medical and medical/mechanical methods for cervical ripening on the risk of preterm birth in subsequent pregnancy, in nulliparous women. A retrospective cohort study of nulliparous women with term singleton gestations induced by single or combined methods at one center who had their subsequent second birth in the same center. Study groups were compared with a control group of nulliparous women not induced. The primary outcome was risk of preterm labor in the second consecutive birth. Secondary outcomes included neonatal and maternal complications. Cohort included 1277 nulliparous women who underwent cervical ripening by single or combined methods. The study group consisted of 942 women induced by one dose of prostaglandin E2 , 248 women induced by combined methods, and 87 women induced by a mechanical method. The control group consisted of 3903 women. Demographic data of the groups were comparable. Rates of spontaneous preterm birth and early spontaneous preterm birth in the subsequent births did not differ between the groups. Cervical ripening with combined methods or multiple medical methods did not increase the rate of subsequent spontaneous preterm births in nulliparous women or change the neonatal and maternal complications rate.

Changes in obstetric practice in low-risk nulliparous women following publication of the ARRIVE trial

The ARRIVE trial demonstrated the potential benefit of elective labor induction at 39 weeks. Our objective was to determine if there were changes in labor induction, timing of delivery, and mode of delivery among low-risk nulliparous women after the ARRIVE trial publication. This was a retrospective cohort study of nulliparous women who started prenatal care by 12 weeks with singleton, non-anomalous deliveries at ³ 39 weeks in the US. Data were extracted from the US Natality database. The study group consisted of women delivered in 2019, and the control group consisted of women delivered between Jan 2015 to Dec 2017. We excluded births that occurred in the year of the ARRIVE trial publication. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare rate of inductions, delivery timing, and cesarean delivery. Trends were also tested across time periods. There were 609,322 patients in the study group and 1,966,870 in the control group. The study group differed in age, body mass index, marital status, infertility, and smoking history (p< 0.001). After adjusting for these differences, the study group was more likely to undergo induction (36.1% v. 30.2%, p< 0.001) and deliver at 39 weeks (42.8% v. 39.9%, p< 0.001). The study group had a significantly lower rate of cesarean delivery than the control group (27.3 % v. 27.9%, p< 0.001); there were no significant trends in the yearly cesarean rate between 2015 and 2017 (p=0.451). After the ARRIVE trial publication, there were more labor inductions, deliveries at 39 weeks, and a small, but statistically significant, reduction in cesarean deliveries among low-risk nulliparous women in the US. Further research is warranted in regards to the impact of the ARRIVE trial results and other potential motivators for these practice changes within individual departments.

Effect of hyteroscopic uterine septum resection on pregnancy outcomes

ObjectiveTo compare the reproductive outcome following hysteroscopic resection versus usual care in nulliparous women with a septate uterus. MethodsA retrospective cohort study of nulliparous women with a history of uterine septum and had singleton pregnancies at >20 weeks gestation between Jan. 2016 and Dec. 2019 were conducted. Follow-up was performed through medical record reviews and telephone conversations. The primary outcome was preterm birth at<37weeks gestation, and the secondary outcomes include cesarean delivery, malpresentation, preeclampsia, and birth weight<10th percentile for gestational age. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to evaluate the effect of hysteroscopic resection on primary and secondary outcomes, after controlling for potential confounding factors. ResultsTotally 198 women were included in this study, among which 112 women underwent a hysteroscopic resection and 86 women received usual care. Preterm birth incidence (7.1% vs. 18.6%, P = 0.03) and malpresentation (10.7% vs. 23.3%, P = 0.03) was significantly lower in women treated with hysteroscopic resection compared with those received usual care. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that hysteroscopic resection was significantly associated with decreased risks of preterm birth (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.13–0.68; P < 0.01) and malpresentations (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.25–0.71; P < 0.01), after controlling for potential confounding factors. ConclusionHysteroscopic resection could significantly reduce the risks of preterm birth and malpresentations compared to usual care for nulliparous women with a septate uterus.

Pelvic organ prolapse following hysterectomy on benign indication: a nationwide, nulliparous cohort study

Hysterectomy is commonly performed and may increase the risk of pelvic organ prolapse. Previous studies in parous women have shown an increased risk of pelvic organ prolapse surgery after hysterectomy. Parity is a strong risk factor for pelvic organ prolapse and may confuse the true relation between hysterectomy and pelvic organ prolapse. This study aimed to investigate whether hysterectomy performed for benign conditions other than pelvic organ prolapse leads to an increased risk of pelvic organ prolapse surgery in a cohort of nulliparous women. We conducted a historical matched cohort study based on a nationwide population of nulliparous women born in 1947 to 2000 and living in Denmark during 1977 to 2018 (N=549,197). The data were obtained from the Danish Civil Registration System, the Danish National Patient Registry, the Fertility Register, and Statistics Denmark. Women who had a hysterectomy performed in 1977 to 2018 were included in the study (n=9535). For each of these women we randomly retrieved five nonhysterectomized women matched on age and calendar year to constitute the reference group (n=47,370). Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to compare the risk of pelvic organ prolapse surgery in the 2 groups of women. The study included 56,905 women whom we observed for up to 42 years, entailing 809,435 person-years in risk. Overall, 9535 women who underwent a hysterectomy were matched individually with 47,370 reference women. Subsequently, a total of 29 women (30.4%) who underwent a hysterectomy and 85 reference women (17.9%) had a pelvic organ prolapse surgery performed, corresponding to incidence rates of 20.5 and 12.7 per 100,000 risk years, respectively. In addition, the risk of pelvic organ prolapse surgery increased by 60% in women who underwent a hysterectomy compared with women in the reference group (crude hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.5; P=.04; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.5; P=.04). After the exclusion of women who underwent vaginal hysterectomy and their matches, the results were significantly the same (crude hazard ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.4; P=.05). Furthermore, we found higher rates of pelvic organ prolapse surgery in women who had a subtotal hysterectomy, total hysterectomy, or vaginal and laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomies than in women in the reference group. Hysterectomy increased the risk of pelvic organ prolapse surgery for nulliparous women by 60%. Previous studies of multiparous women have similarly shown an increased risk of prolapse after hysterectomy. As the most common risk factor for pelvic organ prolapse-vaginal birth-was not included and women were >72 years of age in this study, the numbers of pelvic organ prolapse surgeries were low. Despite the low absolute risk of pelvic organ prolapse surgery in nulliparous women, they were important in investigating the association between hysterectomy and pelvic organ prolapse, excluding vaginal birth, which is the most common risk factor for pelvic organ prolapse. As this cohort study of nulliparous women found an increased risk of pelvic organ prolapse surgery after hysterectomy, it is implied that the uterus per se protects against pelvic organ prolapse. As such, gynecologists should be aware of the risks associated with hysterectomy, and alternative uterus-sparing treatments should be considered when possible. Furthermore, women should be informed about the risks before being offered a hysterectomy.

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

ObjectiveTo investigate associations between the duration of the active second stage of labour and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. MethodThis cohort study is based on data from a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) undertaken at 14 Norwegian birth clinics in Norway from 2014 to 2017. The final sample involved 6804 nulliparous women with a singleton fetus, cephalic presentation, spontaneous onset of labour at term, vaginal delivered and with an active second stage of labour. The women were grouped to active second stage of labour ≤ 60 min and active second stage of labour > 60 min. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of the maternal and neonatal outcomes with an associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs), comparing women in the two groups. ResultsThere was an increased risk of postpartum haemorrhage > 1000 ml with an adjusted OR 1.31 (95% CI: 1.01–1.69) when the active second stage of labour exceeded 60 min. There was no significant difference in the risk of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (adjusted OR 0.93 [95% CI: 0.65–1.39]), Apgar scores < 7 at 5 min age (adjusted OR 1.13 [95% CI: 0.65–1.97]) or admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (adjusted OR 1.46 [95% CI: 0.61–3.51]) between the study groups. ConclusionWomen with an active second stage of labour that exceeds 60 min had an increased risk of postpartum haemorrhage > 1000 ml. We found no association between duration of active stage of labour and obstetric anal sphincter injuries or adverse neonatal outcomes.

The association between persistent maternal hypotension and small for gestational age neonates

The association between maternal hypotension and poor fetal growth has not been well studied. We hypothesized that the presence of persistent maternal hypotension will reflect a chronic reduction of uteroplacental blood flow, leading to placental hypoperfusion and subsequent poor fetal growth. We aimed to evaluate whether persistent hypotension is associated with the risk of having a small for gestational age neonate. A secondary aim was to evaluate whether transient hypotension is associated with the same risk of having a small for gestational age neonate. We performed a secondary analysis of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be data, a large prospective cohort study of nulliparous women. The inclusion criteria included delivery of subjects with singleton pregnancies at ≥24 weeks' gestation who had systolic and diastolic blood pressure data at 3 antenatal visits between 6 0/7 and 29 6/7 weeks' gestation. Univariable analyses were performed to evaluate the association among persistent hypotension (systolic blood pressure of <100 mm Hg and or diastolic blood pressure of <60 mm Hg at 3 antenatal visits), transient hypotension (systolic blood pressure <100 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure <60 mm Hg at any 1 of 3 aforementioned visits but not all 3), maternal characteristics and small for gestational age neonates. Variables found to be significant (P<.05) were included in multivariable logistic regression. Here, 164 of 7233 participants (2.3%) had persistent hypotension. In univariable analyses, subjects with persistent hypotension compared with those without were significantly more likely to have small for gestational age neonates (21.3% vs 11.6%; P<.001). When adjusting for confounders, persistent hypotension remained significantly associated with an increased risk of having a small for gestational age neonate (adjusted odds ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-2.44). In multivariable analysis, transient hypotension was not associated with an increased risk of having a small for gestational age neonate. Persistent hypotension was significantly associated with small for gestational age among neonates born to low-risk nulliparous women.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cesarean Delivery and Indications Among Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex Women

ObjectiveTo compare cesarean delivery rates and indications by race/ethnicity among nulliparous women with term, singleton, vertex presentation deliveries.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of nulliparous women delivering term, singleton, vertex neonates at Kaiser Permanente Northern California from 1/1/2016 to 6/30/2017. Women with cesarean for elective, malpresentation, or previa were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for maternal, neonatal, and facility factors were used to assess the likelihood of cesarean by race/ethnicity. Further modeling was performed to examine odds of cesarean for the indications of failure to progress and fetal intolerance by race/ethnicity.ResultsThe cohort of 16,587 racially/ethnically diverse women meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria consisted of 41.62% White, 27.73% Asian, 22.11% Hispanic, 5.32% Black, and 3.21% multiple race/other women. In adjusted logistic regression models, all race and ethnic categories had higher odds of cesarean deliveries in comparison to White women. Black women had the highest odds of cesarean delivery (adjusted OR [aOR] = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.45–2.06), followed by Asian (aOR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.45–2.06), multiple race/other (aOR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.17–1.80), and Hispanic (aOR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.28–1.59) women. Compared with White women, Asian (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.22–1.74) and Hispanic (aOR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.03–1.52) women had higher odds of failure to progress as the indication. Among women with failure to progress, Black (aOR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.30–0.81), Hispanic (aOR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.53–0.87), and Asian (aOR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.61–0.96) women were less likely than White women to reach 10 cm dilation. Compared with White women, Black women were more likely to have cesarean delivery for fetal intolerance (aOR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.10–2.07). Among women with fetal intolerance of labor, there were no significant differences by race/ethnicity for Apgar score or neonatal intensive care unit admission.ConclusionsRace/ethnicity was significantly associated with the odds of cesarean and indication. All other race/ethnicity groups had higher odds of cesarean compared with White women. Compared with White women, Black women had greater odds of fetal intolerance as an indication, while Hispanic and Asian women had greater odds of failure to progress. Maternal, neonate, and facility factors for cesarean delivery did not explain the observed disparities in cesarean delivery rates.

Fetal head progression and regression on maternal pushing at term and labor outcome.

The aim of our study was two-fold. First, to evaluate the association between the change in the angle of progression (AoP) on maternal pushing and labor outcome. Second, to assess the incidence and clinical significance of the reduction of AoP on maternal pushing. This was a prospective cohort study of nulliparous women with singleton pregnancy at term. AoP was measured at rest and on maximum Valsalva maneuver before the onset of labor, and the difference between AoP on maximum Valsalva and that at rest (ΔAoP) was calculated for each woman. Following delivery and data collection, we assessed the association between ΔAoP and various labor outcomes, including Cesarean section (CS), duration of the first, second and active second stages of labor, Apgar score and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The prevalence of women with reduction of AoP on maximum Valsalva maneuver (AoP-regression group) was calculated and its association with the mode of delivery and duration of different stages of labor was assessed. Overall, 469 women were included in the analysis. Among these, 273 (58.2%) had spontaneous vaginal birth, 65 (13.9%) had instrumental delivery and 131 (27.9%) underwent CS. Women in the CS group were older, had narrower AoP at rest and on maximum Valsalva, higher rate of epidural administration and lower 1-min and 5-min Apgar scores in comparison with the vaginal-delivery group. ΔAoP was comparable between the two groups. On Pearson's correlation analysis, AoP at rest and on maximum Valsalva maneuver had a significant negative correlation with the duration of the first stage of labor. ΔAoP showed a significant negative correlation with the duration of the active second stage of labor (Pearson's r, -0.125; P = 0.02). Cox regression model analysis showed that ΔAoP was associated independently with the duration of the active second stage (hazard ratio, 1.014 (95% CI, 1.003-1.025); P = 0.012) after adjusting for maternal age and body mass index. AoP reduction on maximum Valsalva was found in 73 (15.6%) women. In comparison with women who showed no change or an increase in AoP on maximum Valsalva, the AoP-regression group did not demonstrate significant difference in maternal characteristics, mode of delivery, rate of epidural analgesia, duration of the different stages of labor or rate of NICU admission. In nulliparous women at term before the onset of labor, narrower AoP at rest and on maximum Valsalva, reflecting fetal head engagement, is associated with a higher risk of Cesarean delivery. The increase in AoP from rest to Valsalva, reflecting more efficient maternal pushing, is associated with a shorter active second stage of labor. Fetal head regression on maternal pushing is present in about 16% of women and does not appear to have clinical significance. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

A literature review and best practice advice for second and third trimester risk stratification, monitoring, and management of pre‐eclampsia

A literature review and best practice advice for second and third trimester risk stratification, monitoring, and management of pre‐eclampsia

Refining the clinical definition of active phase arrest of dilation in nulliparous women to consider degree of cervical dilation as well as duration of arrest

Maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with duration of arrest of dilation beyond 4 hours are not well known. In addition, the current definition of arrest does not consider the degree of cervical dilation (6 cm vs 7 cm vs 8 cm vs 9 cm) when arrest occurs. We sought to examine maternal and neonatal outcomes in nulliparous women who achieved the active phase of labor according to the duration they required to achieve a cervical change of at least 1 cm (<4 hours vs 4-5.9 hours vs ≥6 hours) beginning at 6, 7, 8 and 9 cm. This was a retrospective cohort study of nulliparous women with term singleton cephalic pregnancies in spontaneous or induced active labor (≥6 cm). To evaluate the effect of labor duration on maternal and fetal outcomes at different degrees of cervical dilation, we categorized women based on time intervals they required to achieve a cervical change of at least 1 cm after membrane rupture ("<4 hours," "4-5.9 hours," and "≥6 hours"), and we correlated each time interval with referent cervical dilation status (6 cm, 7 cm, 8 cm, and 9 cm). Maternal and neonatal outcomes were analyzed according to the duration to progress at least 1 cm starting from each degree of cervical dilation. Our primary outcome was a composite of neonatal outcomes, including intensive care unit admission, neonatal death, seizure, ventilator use, birth injury, and neonatal asphyxia. In addition, we examined maternal outcomes. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated, controlling for predefined covariates. Of 31,505 nulliparous women included in this study, 13,142 (42%), 10,855 (34%), 11,761 (37%), and 17,049 (54%) reached documented cervical dilation of 6, 7, 8, and 9 cm, respectively. At cervical dilation of 6 or 7 cm, the arrest of dilation of <4 hours compared with arrest of dilation of 4 to 5.9 hours was associated with decreased risks of adverse maternal outcomes. When cervical dilation was 8 or 9 cm, arrest of dilation of <4 hours compared with arrest of dilation of 4 to 5.9 hours was associated with decreased risks of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. For example, women starting at a cervical dilation of 8 cm who required <4 hours to achieve a cervical change of 1 cm compared with those who required 4 to 5.9 hours had lower rates of cesarean delivery (adjusted odds ratio, 0.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.55), chorioamnionitis (adjusted odds ratio, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.29-0.60), and the neonatal composite outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-0.72). When cervical dilation is 6 or 7 cm, allowing arrest of dilation of ≥4 hours is reasonable because it was not associated withincreased risks of adverse neonatal outcomes. When cervical dilationis 8 or 9 cm, the benefit of allowing arrest of dilation of ≥4 hours should be balanced against the risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

117 Clinically defined active phase arrest of labor in nulliparous women

We sought to examine maternal and neonatal outcomes in women who achieved the active phase of labor and evaluated the duration of time to progress at least 1 cm. This was a retrospective cohort study of nulliparous women with term singleton in a cephalic presentation who presented with spontaneous labor and achieved active labor. Women were categorized based on the time interval it took to make at least 1 cm of cervical change (less than 4 hours, 4-5.9 hours, 6 hours or greater). Analyses were performed at cervical dilation of 6, 7, 8, and 9 cm. Outcomes that were examined included cesarean delivery, chorioamnionitis, and a composite of neonatal outcomes including intensive care unit admission, seizure, ventilator use, birth injury, or asphyxia. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated, controlling for predefined covariates. Of 31,505 nulliparous women, there were 13,142 (42%), 10,855 (34%), 11,761 (37%), and 17,049 (54%) who had documented cervical dilation of 6, 7, 8, and 9 cm, respectively (Figure). Rates of women who took 6 hours or greater to make at least 1 cm cervical change decreased as cervical dilation progressed. Overall, results were similar regardless of cervical dilation. For example, if we look at the time interval for women to make cervical change starting at 8 cm; women who took less than 4 hours to make cervical change from 8 cm compared to those who took 4-5.9 hours had lower rates of cesarean delivery (aOR 0.40; 95%CI 0.28-0.55), chorioamnionitis (aOR 0.42; 95%CI 0.29-0.60), and the neonatal composite outcome (aOR 0.51; 95%CI 0.36-0.72). However, women who took 6 hours or greater had similar rates of cesarean delivery (aOR 1.14; 95%CI 0.78-1.69), chorioamnionitis (aOR 1.30; 95%CI 0.83-2.03), and the neonatal composite outcome (aOR 1.18; 95%CI 0.70-2.00). While women who took less than 4 hours to make cervical change had lower rates of maternal and neonatal outcomes compared to those who took 4-5.9 hours, those who took 6 hours or greater did not have increased rates of maternal and neonatal outcomes.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)

562 Delivery outcomes in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: comparing induction versus immediate cesarean delivery

To compare delivery outcome and associated maternal and neonatal complications in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) who undergo induction of labor (IOL) versus immediate primary cesarean delivery (CD). This is a retrospective cohort study of nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy at term delivering at NYU Langone Health and NYU Langone Hospital Brooklyn in 2018 with a diagnosis of HDP. Women who presented in labor (modified Bishop score >5) were excluded. Delivery outcomes and indication for CD were tabulated for the IOL group. A composite of maternal and fetal/neonatal complications occurring after the decision on delivery mode were compared between women who underwent IOL (defined as cervical ripening and/or oxytocin) versus immediate CD after diagnosis. Outcomes were analyzed using Chi-squared and Fischer’s exact test, with p<0.05 considered significant. 261 women met criteria for inclusion, including 241 (93.1%) who underwent IOL of labor and 18 (7.0%) with CD without labor. There was no difference between groups in severity of HDP diagnosis (p=0.66). Of those that underwent IOL, 140 (58.1%) had a vaginal delivery (VD). The most common indication for CD was labor arrest (67.9%), followed by fetal intolerance of labor (20.5%). Worsening HDP accounted for 3.6% of indications for CD. There was no difference between IOL and CD groups in rates of composite maternal complications (34.0% versus 33.3%, p=0.95, Table 1). There was no difference in fetal/neonatal composite complications between IOL and CD groups (21.2% versus 5.6%, p=0.11, Table 1). In nulliparous women with HDP at term, IOL is not associated with additional maternal or fetal/neonatal complications compared to immediate CD and is associated with a high rate of VD success. Understanding how the decision for IOL or CD influence maternal and neonatal complications in the setting of HDP will inform patient and provider counseling. Further studies should investigate how the rate of successful VD with IOL influences the risk/benefit balance for this decision.