Onset Of Labor Research Articles

Foeto–Maternal outcomes of pregnancies beyond 41 weeks of gestation after induced or spontaneous labour

ObjectiveIt has been suggested that induction of labour before 42 weeks of pregnancy prevents foetal complications. To evaluate the maternal and foetal outcomes of induced and spontaneous labour beyond gestational week 41 + 0. Study designWe conducted a register-based nationwide cohort study that included pregnant women who were delivered in Sweden in 2016–2021. Women were classified into two groups: induction of labour (IOL) or spontaneous onset of labour (SOL). Maternal and foetal outcomes after IOL in gestational week 41 were compared with SOL in gestational week 41 and 42. ResultsComparison between the IOL (n = 23,772) and SOL (n = 62,611) groups in gestational weeks 41 showed that various parameters were higher in the IOL group: caesarean deliveries (12.3 % and 4.6 %, P < 0.001), vacuum extraction (8.7 % and 6.9 %, P < 0.001), blood loss of > 1000 ml during labour (11 % vs 8.3 %, P < 0.001). The risks were remained significant even after adjusting for potential confounders (caesarean delivery: aOR 2.36; 95 % CI, 2.23–2.50, vacuum delivery: aOR 1.09; 95 % CI, 1.03–1.16, P = 0.002, and blood loss of >1000 ml: aOR 1.25; 95 % CI 1.18–1.31). The proportions of stillbirths (0.07 % and 0.18, P < 0.001), and newborns with apgar scores < 4 at five minutes (0.4 % vs 0.3 %, P < 0.001), were also higher in the IOL group. The risk of stillbirth after IOL in gestational week 41 was increased relative to SOL in the same week and remained high after adjusting for potential confounders (aOR 1.75; 95 % CI 1.07–2.80, P = 0.025).The IOL group in gestational weeks 41 comprised a higher proportion of caesarean deliveries (12.3 % and 8.5 %, P < 0.001), but a lower (8.7 % and 9.7 %, P = 0.006) proportion of deliveries by vacuum extraction than the SOL group (n = 4548) in week 42. ConclusionsInducing labour at gestational week 41 in women with prolonged pregnancies may have adverse effects on foetal and maternal outcomes compared to those who experience spontaneous labour onset at the same gestational age. The risk of negative foetal outcomes after induction at week 41 appears similar to that in women who give birth after spontaneous labour at week 42.

Acupuncture before planned admission for induction of labor (ACUPUNT study): a randomized controlled trial

The increase in the use of induction of labor is a worldwide phenomenon in the current management of labor and delivery in Western societies, with approximately one out of every 4 pregnancies undergoing this procedure This has led women to seek various methods for stimulation of the onset of labor. Some data suggest that the use of acupuncture for favoring spontaneous labor onset could reduce the number of inductions of labor procedures. However, good quality evidence in this respect is not yet available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture using a filiform needle to induce spontaneous onset of labor in women with a scheduled induction of labor date and assess the safety and satisfaction of women undergoing acupuncture. We conducted a multicenter, randomized, controlled, parallel-arm, unmasked trial in 3 hospitals in Spain. Eligible participants were women older than 18 years with a singleton pregnancy and a cephalic presentation, scheduled for induction of labor following center-specific protocols. Participants were randomly allocated to one of 2 groups: the intervention group, which underwent acupuncture sessions for a maximum of 4 days prior to the scheduled induction of labor, or the control group, which received no specific prelabor intervention. The primary study outcome was the proportion of women admitted because of spontaneous onset of labor or premature rupture of membranes before or the day of the scheduled induction of labor. Between November 2017 and June 2023, 212 women were recruited and included in the analysis (106 in the acupuncture group and 106 in the control group). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the baseline demographic characteristics. Regarding the primary outcome, 65.1% (69/106) of women in the acupuncture group and 39.6% (42/106) in the control group were admitted for spontaneous onset of labor or premature rupture of membranes (P<.001). Overall, women in the intervention group were admitted 1.25 days before (SD 1.4) their scheduled induction of labor date compared to 0.67 days (SD 1.15) for those in the control group (P=.001). The median time from recruitment to hospitalization was 4.48 days for the acupuncture group and 5.33 days for the control group (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.35-0.77, P=.001). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding the time from admission to delivery or the cesarean delivery rate. Nor were there differences in the rates of maternal or neonatal outcomes, and no maternal or fetal deaths occurred in either group. Acupuncture with filiform needles, administered 4 days prior to scheduled induction of labor increased admission for spontaneous onset of labor and premature rupture of membranes before the induction of labor date.

Impact of partial prelabor rupture of membranes at term on labor and on obstetrical and neonatal outcomes: Aretrospective case-control study.

This study aimed to assess whether a partial term prelabor rupture of membranes (partial TPROM) had an impact on the spontaneous onset of labor compared to complete TPROM. We performed a retrospective study in a French level III maternity hospital. We included all singleton cephalic pregnancies presenting with prelabor rupture of membranes ≥37 weeks gestational age. Patients with a partial TPROM (P group) were compared to patients with a complete TPROM (C group). Induction of labor was performed following expectative management of 24-48 h, and antibiotic prophylaxis was started 12 h after rupture. Our main outcome measure was the rate of patients who had spontaneous labor 24 h following prelabor rupture. Overall, 389 women were included in the study, 148 in the P group, 241 in the C group. The proportion of women who went into spontaneous labor in the 24 h following TPROM was significantly lower in the P group (45% vs 64%, P < 0.001). A partial TPROM was a predictive factor for absence of labor at 24 h following rupture (adjusted odds ratio: 0.44 [0.29-0.68]). There were more cases of induction of labor (50% vs 20%, P < 0.001) and antibiotic prophylaxis (91% vs 73%, P < 0.001) in the P group. However, obstetrical and neonatal outcomes were comparable between the two groups. Compared to complete TPROM, partial TPROM is associated with a lower probability of spontaneous labor in the 24 h following rupture. The persistence of a residual membrane has been identified as a risk factor for delaying labor beyond 24 h.

Characteristics of the hemostatic system “P-selectin — von Willebrand factor — metalloprotease ADAMTS13” during childbirth

Introduction. The physiological task of the blood coagulation system during childbirth is to prevent excessive blood loss.Aim: to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative characteristics in the system P-selectin-von Willebrand factor (vWF)-metallo-protease ADAMTS13 during natural and uncomplicated childbirth in women with a physiological pregnancy.Materials and methods. The study included 40 pregnant women without somatic pathology, with a physiologically progressing pregnancy that ended with physiological birth (general group). Of these, 16 women had their first birth (group 1), 18 had their second birth (group 2) and 6 had their third birth (group 3). Venous blood sampling was performed at three points throughout the study: 1st point — the onset of labor, 2nd point — 2 hours after childbirth and 3rd point — 24 hours after child -birth. The control group consisted of 25 healthy non-pregnant women. The blood samples were examined for: vWF antigen (vWF:Ag), binding ability of vWF to platelet receptor GPIb (vWF:GPIb), binding ability of vWF to collagen type I (vWF:CBAI) and type III (vWF:CBAIII), antigen and activity ADAMTS13 (ADAMTS13:Ag and ADAMTS13:AC), antibodies to ADAMTS13 (ADAMTS13:AB) and P-selectin.Results. The medians of the studied vWF characteristics in the genera l group were statistically significantly higher compared to the control group at all study points, with the exception of the medians of the vWF:GPIb/vWF:Ag ratio, which in the general group were statistically significantly lower at all study points when compared with the control group. The median values of vWF:GPIb and vWF:Ag in women in the second group were statistically significantly higher at all points of the study, compared with similar indicators in both the first and third groups. The median values of ADAMTS13:AC and ADAMTS13:AB in the overall group were statistically significantly higher when compared with the control group at all study points. Median ADAMTS13:Ag and ADAMTS13:AC/ADAMTS13:Ag ratios were statistically significantly lower at all study points. Individual P-selectin values varied widely from 212.1 to 1398 ng/ml, but the medians of this indicator were statistically significantly higher in all study groups and at all study points compared to the control group.Conclusion. The increase in platelet-binding and collagen-binding abilities of vWF suggests that these adhesive properties of the hemostatic protein play an important role in preventing excessive bleeding during labor. Taking into account the decrease in the vWF:GPIb/vWF:Ag ratio compared to the control group, the adhesion of vWF to collagen is more important under these conditions. Despite the fact that ADAMTS13 concentration does not decrease, an actual twofold increase in its activity provides a sufficient antithrombotic effect. The interaction between vWF and ADAMTS13 under conditions of physiological labor does not lead to excessive formation and accumulation of high-affinity antibodies to ADAMTS13.

A prospective study of clinical profile of premature rupture of membranes and its effect on maternal and perinatal outcome at term gestation in primigravida

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is defined as the spontaneous rupture of amniotic membranes with a release of amniotic fluid, before the onset of labor. If it occurs after 37 weeks of gestation, it is called as term PROM. The incidence of PROM worldwide varies between 5-10%.Out of which 80% occurs at term. In India, the incidence of PROM was reported as 7-12% in all labours.This study was a prospective, observational hospital based study which include the cases admitted to labour ward, Department of Obstetrics, District hospital, Tumakuru, Karnataka with Premature rupture of membranes or prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM) after fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Out of 220 participants, about 60% (132) of subjects delivered vaginally and40%(88)of subjects underwent caesarean section. Among the 88 subjects who underwent caesarean section, the indications were fetal distress(34.09%), CPD(23%), failed induction (15.9%), non-progress of labour (23.86%). Among the study population, 10(4.54%) babies were with APGAR score &amp;#60;7 and 210(95.45%) babies were with APGAR score ≥7. The Premature rupture of membranes at term still remains as one of the challenging situation to the practicing obstetrician. It is still an important cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity.

Gestation-dependent increase in cervicovaginal pro-inflammatory cytokines and cervical extracellular matrix proteins is associated with spontaneous preterm delivery within 2 weeks of index assessment in South African women.

Inflammation-induced remodelling of gestational tissues that underpins spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB, delivery < 37 weeks' gestation) may vary by race and context. To explore relationships between markers of these pathological processes, we (a) characterised the cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) cytokine profiles of pregnant South African women at risk of PTB; (b) determined CVF matrix-metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and its regulator tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1); and (c) explored the predictive potential of these markers for sPTB. The concentrations of 10 inflammatory cytokines and MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were determined by ELISA in CVF samples from 47 non-labouring women at high risk of PTB. We studied CVF sampled at three gestational time points (GTPs): GTP1 (20-22 weeks, n = 37), GTP2 (26-28 weeks, n = 40), and GTP3 (34-36 weeks, n = 29) and analysed for changes in protein concentrations and predictive capacities (area under the ROC curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (CI)) for sPTB. There were 11 (GTP1), 13 (GTP2), and 6 (GTP3) women who delivered preterm within 85.3 ± 25.9, 51.3 ± 15.3, and 11.8 ± 7.5 (mean ± SD) days after assessment, respectively. At GTP1, IL-8 was higher (4-fold, p = 0.02), whereas GM-CSF was lower (~1.4-fold, p = 0.03) in the preterm compared with term women with an average AUC = 0.73. At GTP2, IL-1β (18-fold, p < 0.0001), IL-8 (4-fold, p = 0.03), MMP-9 (17-fold, p = 0.0007), MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio (9-fold, p = 0.004), and MMP-9/GM-CSF ratio (87-fold, p = 0.005) were higher in preterm compared with term women with an average AUC = 0.80. By contrast, IL-10 was associated with term delivery with an AUC (95% CI) = 0.75 (0.55-0.90). At GTP3, IL-1β (58-fold, p = 0.0003), IL-8 (12-fold, p = 0.002), MMP-9 (296-fold, p = 0.03), and TIMP-1 (35-fold, p = 0.01) were higher in preterm compared with term women with an average AUC = 0.85. Elevated IL-1β was associated with delivery within 14 days of assessment with AUC = 0.85 (0.67-0.96). Overall, elevated MMP-9 at GTP3 had the highest (13.3) positive likelihood ratio for distinguishing women at risk of sPTB. Lastly, a positive correlation between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 at all GTPs (ρ ≥ 0.61, p < 0.01) for women delivering at term was only observed at GTP1 for those who delivered preterm (ρ = 0.70, p < 0.03). In this cohort, sPTB is associated with gestation-dependent increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, decreased IL-10 and GM-CSF, and dysregulated MMP-9-TIMP-1 interaction. Levels of cytokine (especially IL-1β) and ECM remodelling proteins rise significantly in the final 2 weeks before the onset of labour when sPTB is imminent. The signalling mechanisms for these ECM remodelling observations remain to be elucidated.

Evaluation of Statewide Program to Reduce Cesarean Deliveries Among Nulliparous Individuals With Singleton Pregnancies at Term Gestation in Vertex Presentation.

To evaluate the effect of statewide efforts to reduce nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) cesarean delivery rates in California. This was a population-based study of all NTSV births in California from 2015 to 2019. In 2015, all California hospitals with NTSV cesarean delivery rates above the 23.9% Healthy People 2020 target were invited to join a CMQCC (California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative)-sponsored, 3-year, multifaceted collaborative or a system-level quality collaborative to safely support vaginal birth. We examined the cesarean delivery rate overall and by participation or nonparticipation in a collaborative program. Secondarily, for hospitals that started with an NTSV cesarean delivery rate above 23.9%, we compared patient-level, hospital-level, and obstetric management characteristics between hospitals that met the Healthy People 2020 target (cesarean delivery rate below 23.9%) in 2019 and those that did not. There were 758,268 NTSV births at 238 hospitals. Annual mean NTSV cesarean delivery rates decreased among all racial and ethnic groups statewide and among all patients, regardless of payer, maternal age, or body mass index (BMI). The decrease in cesarean delivery was driven largely by a decrease in the frequency of cesarean delivery performed for labor dystocia (14.9% in 2015 to 12.8% in 2019) and from cesarean delivery before the onset of labor (4.2% in 2015 to 3.3% in 2019). For hospitals that started with an NTSV cesarean delivery rate above 23.9%, NTSV cesarean delivery rates among 80 hospitals participating in the CMQCC had a mean±SD decline of 6.9±5.9%, 13 hospitals participating in the system-level collaborative had a 5.0±4.5% decline, and those not participating in any collaborative had a 2.1±6.0% decline. In multivariable analysis, there was no association between meeting the Healthy People target and any of the hospital-level factors or aggregated patient-level characteristics. Rates of induction of labor increased in both groups and were not associated with a change in cesarean delivery rates. Hospitals in California between 2015 and 2019 with a wide variation in institutional and patient characteristics successfully reduced their NTSV cesarean delivery rates. Reduction in the NTSV cesarean delivery rate at hospitals that started above the Healthy People target was not associated with differences in patient characteristics but rather a reduction in cesarean deliveries for labor dystocia and cesarean deliveries performed before the onset of labor.

Spatial Activation of Autophagy in Human Placenta-Related Tissue During Labor: A Possible Mechanism for Labor Onset.

To explore the mechanisms of labor by investigating the autophagy of placental and fetal membranes tissue in normal pregnant women. Placenta and fetal membranes were collected from women with singleton pregnancies without any medical complications and from women who delivered vaginally (labor-initiated group; L group) or by caesarean section (labor-noninitiated group; NL group). Autophagosomes were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Immunofluorescence and western blotting (WB) were used to detect protein levels of the autophagy markers LC3A and LC3B. TEM, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and WB were used to compare autophagy in different parts of the placenta and fetal membranes in the L and NL groups. The expression of LC3B/LC3A, ROCK1, and ROCK2 in the placenta of nonpregnant and pregnant rats was detected by WB and IHC. TEM and IHC results showed an increase in the number of autophagosomes and autophagic lysosomes in the L group, and WB results indicated an increase in the LC3B/A ratio between the placenta and fetal membranes in the L group. Autophagy was significantly increased on the maternal side of the placenta in the L group, and the level of autophagy became higher near rupture in the fetal membranes and near the point where the umbilical cord joins the placenta in the L group. The LC3B/A ratio increased and ROCK1 and ROCK2 levels decreased in postnatal rats. Autophagy can occur in the placenta and fetal membranes and its activity is higher at the onset of labor, suggesting a role in labor.

Embodiment and the technologies of induction of labour

ObjectiveTo critically engage with the body project of induction of labour. DesignA nested, qualitative study that formed part of a feasibility Random Controlled Trial investigating different methods of outpatient induction of labour. The data reported in this article were gathered via interview with women and midwives involved in the trial. All the participants who took part in the trial presented as cisgender women. FindingsAnalysis of 27 interview transcripts suggested that the expansion in choice of when, how and where to start labour can change the way decisions about labour onset is understood. The space needed for a new body project is emerging where distinctions between medicalised labour and spontaneous labour are less clear. ConclusionThe embodiment of the new technologies of induction for those involved in this study was both a facet of increased freedom and autonomy and a gendered discourse where the normative function of routine intervention appeared more complete.

Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio at 36 weeks’ gestation: association with spontaneous onset of labor and intrapartum fetal compromise in low-risk pregnancies

Previous evidence showed that placental dysfunction triggers spontaneous preterm or term births and intrapartum fetal compromise and often requires urgent delivery, thereby exposing both the fetus and the mother to significant risks. Predicting spontaneous labor onset and intrapartum fetal compromise could improve obstetrical management and outcomes, but this is currently difficult, particularly in low-risk populations. The objective of this study was to examine whether placental dysfunction, as assessed at 36 weeks' gestation by the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 to placental growth factor ratio, is associated with the interval to spontaneous onset of labor and intrapartum fetal compromise that requires cesarean delivery in a routinely examined population. This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of women with singleton pregnancies who underwent routine assessment at 35+0 to 36+6 weeks' gestation at the King's College Hospital (London, England). Using a general linear model, the study examined the outcomes related to the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio, including the time interval from testing to spontaneous onset of labor and the subsequent rate of fetal compromise that required a cesarean delivery. Patients who underwent induction of labor or prelabor cesarean deliveries were excluded from the study. Competing risks regression and Cox regression models were used to estimate the cumulative incidence and the risk of the outcomes of interest. In the screened population of 45,375 patients, 23,831 (52.5%) had spontaneous onset of labor and were included in the analysis. Cases with an soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio >50 delivered about 1 week earlier than those with a ratio of ≤50 (39.2 vs 40.0 weeks' gestation; P<.001). The general linear model showed that a larger soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio was associated with earlier spontaneous onset of labor (P<.001), particularly among multiparous women. The soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio was significantly associated, as expected, with cases of preeclampsia and advanced maternal age. The cumulative incidence of spontaneous onset of labor was significantly higher in cases with an soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio >50 than in those with a ratio 50 (P<.001). Cox regression showed that the risk for spontaneous onset of labor increased with an soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio >50 (hazard ratio, 1.424; 95% confidence interval, 1.253-1.618; P<.001) and, as expected, the risk was mitigated over time from when the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio was measured to spontaneous labor onset (P<.001). Cases with intrapartum fetal compromise had a higher mean soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio than those without intrapartum fetal compromise (21.79 vs 17.67; P<.001). Qualitative addition of fetal compromise to the general linear model showed a higher soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio in cases with fetal compromise than in those without fetal compromise (P=.014). Competing risks regression showed a positive dose-response effect for fetal compromise with increasing soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratios (P<.001). Above and below the optimal cutoff of 50, the quoted cumulative incidences were 6.7% and 4.7%, respectively (P<.001). The effect of the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio remained significant even after adjusting for preeclampsia, which is a well-known major risk factor for fetal compromise. Finally, the proportion of cases with intrapartum fetal compromise who had an soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio >50 decreased from 35% to 0% with advancing gestation. This study showed that an increased soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio at 36 weeks' gestation is associated with an earlier gestational age at spontaneous onset of labor and higher rates of intrapartum fetal compromise. There are 2 major implications, namely an soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio >50 indicates imminent labor onset with about a 40% mean risk increase and immediate clinical translation for term pregnancy monitoring. In addition, an increased soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio increases the risk for intrapartum fetal compromise, although outcome variability indicates reassessment within multimarker models.

The prevalence of inflammatory process in placentas from premature births in different gestational periods

Premature birth (PB) is the birth in less than 37 weeks, which can be spontaneous and iatrogenic, its frequency reaches 10% of all births. The pathogenesis of premature labor is based on the inflammatory reaction of the chorion, amnion and decidual membrane, but the origin of the inflammatory reaction is different depending on the gestational age.The objective: to study the prevalence of the inflammatory response in placenta samples from very early preterm, early preterm and term births.Materials and methods. Placenta samples from 203 parturient women who gave birth in the gestational period of 22–27 weeks – very early PB (I group – 101 parturient women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM), II group – 102 parturient women with the onset of labor with intact membranes) and 202 parturient women were examined with deliveries in the period of 28–34 weeks – early PB (III group – 100 women in labor with PROM and IV group – 102 women in labor with the onset of labor with intact fetal membranes) and 60 women in labor with term deliveries.Immunohistochemical detection of CD8, CD3 and CD14 antigens in villi was used to assess the prevalence of the inflammatory process and compare it between groups.Results. In 56.7% of placentas from term deliveries no markers of villousitis were detected, a mild form of villousitis was found in another third of cases. In placentas of woman with the onset of labor between the 28th and 34th weeks with intact fetal membranes there were signs of villousitis in 54.9%, and its mild manifestations in 33.3%. In the case of premature rupture of the membranes, the prevalence of villousitis reached 65%, its severe forms were more often observed.On the other hand, in the groups of very early PB only 14.9 and 15.7% of placentas had no signs of vilouisitis, one in five placentas from these groups had severe focal or diffuse villousitis. In the group of early PB and intact amniotic membranes, one third of the placentas demonstrated an isolated CD3 lymphocyte marker, no antigen was detected in 47.1% of placentas, and only in every tenth placenta antigens of macrophages of fetal origin were determined. A similar distribution was found in placentas from early PB with PROM.In placentas from very early PB the highest frequency of CD14 detection was found – every second placenta contained this marker in isolation and in 22.5% – in combination with maternal lymphocyte markers. In the group of very early PB on the background of PROM placentas with a positive CD14 test dominated – 31.7% isolated and 45.5% in combination with CD3.Conclusions. 1. In placentas from premature births (PB) at 28–34 weeks, villousitis was detected in 54.9% of cases against the background of intact amniotic membranes and in 65.0% – on the background of premature rupture of the membranes, from very early PBs – in 85.1% and 83.3%, respectively. Placentas from deliveries with premature rupture of the fetal membranes more often had signs of severe villousitis – in 21% of cases at 28–34 weeks and in 20.6% at 22–27 weeks.2. In placentas from early PB, macrophage antigen of fetal origin was detected in 22% of cases in the cases of premature rupture of the fetal membranes and in 21.6% of cases of childbirth with intact membranes; these samples were dominated by infiltration by lymphocytes of maternal origin. On the other hand, placentas from very early PB and ruptured fetal membranes in 77.2% of cases contained antigen of fetal macrophages and in 71.6% of cases of onset of labor with intact membranes.Such results indicate the fetal origin of the inflammatory process in very early PB.

Variations in the use of oxytocin for augmentation of labour in Sweden: a population-based cohort study

National Swedish data shows substantial variation in the use of oxytocin for augmentation of spontaneous labour between obstetric units. This study aimed to investigate if variations in the use of oxytocin augmentation are associated with maternal and infant characteristics or clinical factors. We used a cohort design including women allocated to Robson group 1 (nulliparous women, gestational week ≥ 37 + 0, with singleton births in cephalic presentation and spontaneous onset of labour) and 3 (parous women, gestational week ≥ 37 + 0, with singleton births in cephalic presentation, spontaneous onset of labour, and no previous caesarean birth). Crude and adjusted logistic regression models with marginal standardisation were used to estimate risk ratios (RR) and risk differences (RD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for oxytocin use by obstetric unit. An interaction analysis was performed to investigate the potential modifying effect of epidural. The use of oxytocin varied between 47 and 73% in Robson group 1, and 10% and 33% in Robson group 3. Compared to the remainder of Sweden, the risk of oxytocin augmentation ranged from 13% lower (RD − 13.0, 95% CI − 15.5 to − 10.6) to 14% higher (RD 14.0, 95% CI 12.3–15.8) in Robson group 1, and from 6% lower (RD − 5.6, 95% CI − 6.8 to − 4.5) to 18% higher (RD 17.9, 95% CI 16.5–19.4) in Robson group 3. The most notable differences in risk estimates were observed among women in Robson group 3 with epidural. In conclusion, variations in oxytocin use remained despite adjusting for risk factors. This indicates unjustified differences in use of oxytocin in clinical practice.

Maternal health care services utilization and associated factors among women in Zoba Maekel, Eritrea 2022: a community based study

Introduction: Studies reveal that regular utilization of maternal health care services reduces maternal morbidity and mortality in which these services are affected by complex factors which may be similar across populations. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted from February to May of 2022. A total of 607 women who gave birth in the last 2 years and residing in the area for at least 6 months were selected by two stage cluster sampling technique. A predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used to collect data via face to face interview technique. Chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression were used for data analysis using SPSS (Version 26). Results: Magnitude of maternal health care services utilization was found as; attending antenatal care 99.9%, institutional delivery 99.3% and postnatal care 91.4%. The majority (91.4%) were aware of postnatal care. The proportion (91.5%) of women who utilized postnatal care among those with awareness about it was significantly greater (p&lt;0.001) than the proportion of women who utilized it and with no awareness (63.5%). The nationwide lockdown due to COVID- 19, sudden onset of labor, feeling well were barriers to attending antenatal care, institutional delivery and postnatal care services respectively. Conclusion: Prevalence of antenatal care, institutional delivery and postnatal care services was higher than the national estimate. Improving the quality of care around the time of pregnancy, birth and postpartum is recommended to continuously sensitize the community about the services and further increase the utilization.

The Role of Prolactin in Amniotic Membrane Regeneration: Therapeutic Potential for Premature Rupture of Membranes.

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is defined as rupture of fetal membranes before the onset of labor. Prolactin (PRL) is secreted by decidual membranes and accumulated significantly in the amniotic fluid during pregnancy. PRL could ameliorate inflammation and collagen degradation in fetal membranes. However, the role of PRL in amniotic membrane is not well characterized. We isolated human amniotic epithelial stem cells (hAESCs) from human fetal membranes to study the effect of PRL on proliferation, migration, and antioxidative stress. Amniotic pore culture technique (APCT) model was constructed to evaluate the tissue regeneration effect in vitro. The potential targets and pathways of PRL acting in amnion via integrated bioinformatic methods. PRL had a dose-dependent effect on hAESCs in vitro. PRL (500 ng/mL) significantly improved the viability of hAESCs and inhibited cell apoptosis, related to the upregulation of CCN2 expression and downregulation of Bax, Caspase 3, and Caspase 8. PRL accelerated migration process in hAESCs via downregulation of MMP2, MMP3, and MMP9. PRL attenuated the cellular damage and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by hydrogen peroxide in hAESCs. PRL accelerated the healing process in the APCT model significantly. The top 10 specific targets (IGF1R, SIRT1, MAP2K1, CASP8, MAPK14, MCL1, NFKB1, HIF1A, MTOR, and HSP90AA1) and signaling pathways (such as HIF signaling pathway) were selected using an integrated bioinformatics approach. PRL improves the viability and antioxidative stress function of hAESCs and the regeneration of ruptured amniotic membranes in vitro. Thus, PRL has great therapeutic potential for prevention and treatment of ruptured membranes.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with breech presentation in planned community (home and birth center) births in the United States: A prospective observational cohort study.

Investigate maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with breech presentation in planned community births in the United States, including outcomes associated with types of breech presentation (i.e., frank, complete, footling/kneeling). Secondary analysis of prospective cohort data from a national perinatal data registry (MANA Stats). Planned community birth (homes and birth centers), United States. Individuals with a term, singleton gestation (N = 71,943) planning community birth at labor onset. Descriptive statistics to calculate associations between types of breech presentation and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Maternal: intrapartum/postpartum transfer, hospitalization, cesarean, hemorrhage, severe perineal laceration, duration of labor stages and membrane rupture Neonatal: transfer, hospitalization, NICU admission, congenital anomalies, umbilical cord prolapse, birth injury, intrapartum/neonatal death. One percent (n = 695) of individuals experienced breech birth (n = 401, 57.6% vaginally). Most fetuses presented frank breech (57%), with 19% complete, 18% footling/kneeling, and 5% unknown type of breech presentation. Among all breech labors, there were high rates of intrapartum transfer and cesarean birth compared to cephalic presentation (OR 9.0, 95% CI 7.7-10.4 and OR 18.6, 95% CI 15.9-21.7, respectively), with no substantive difference based on parity, planned site of birth, or level of care integration into the health system. For all types of breech presentations, there was increased risk for nearly all assessed neonatal outcomes including hospital transfer, NICU admission, birth injury, and umbilical cord prolapse. Breech presentation was also associated with increased risk of intrapartum/neonatal death (OR 8.5, 95% CI 4.4-16.3), even after congenital anomalies were excluded. All types of breech presentations in community birth settings are associated with increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes. These research findings contribute to informed decision-making and reinforce the need for breech training and research and an increase in accessible, high-quality care for planned vaginal breech birth in US hospitals.

Caesarean section rates in a tertiary teaching hospital in northern Uganda: a retrospective analysis using the robson ten group classification system

BackgroundThe Robson Ten Groups Classification System (RTGCS) is increasingly used to assess, monitor, and compare caesarean section (CS) rates within and between healthcare facilities. We evaluated the major contributing groups to the CS rate at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital (GRRH) in Northern Uganda using the RTGCS.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of all deliveries from June 2019 through July 2020 at GRRH, Gulu city, Uganda. We reviewed files of mothers and collected data on sociodemographic and obstetric variables. The outcome variables were Robson Ten Groups (1–10) based on parity, gestational age, foetal presentation, number of foetuses, the onset of labour, parity and lie, and history of CS.ResultsWe reviewed medical records of 3,183 deliveries, with a mean age of 24.6 ± 5.7 years. The overall CS rate was 13.4% (n = 427). Most participants were in RTGCS groups 3 (43.3%, n = 185) and 1 (29.2%, n = 88). The most common indication for CS was prolonged labour (41.0%, n = 175), followed by foetal distress (19.9%, n = 85) and contracted pelvis (13.6%, n = 58).ConclusionOur study showed that GRRH patients had a low-risk obstetric population dominated by mothers in groups 3 and 1, which could explain the low overall CS rate of 13.4%. However, the rates of CS among low-risk populations are alarmingly high, and this is likely to cause an increase in CS rates in the future. We recommend group-specific interventions through CS auditing to lower group-specific CS rates.

Vitamin C Levels in Pregnant Women and the Efficacy of Vitamin C Supplements in Preventing Premature Rupture of Membranes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is defined as the leakage of amniotic fluid before the onset of labor and delivery contractions. Some studies found that women who experienced PROM had significantly lower vitamin C blood levels than those who did not, while others found no significant differences. Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the efficacy of vitamin C in the prevention of PROM had conflicting results. Conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine if there was a significant difference in vitamin C blood levels in women who had PROM versus the control group who did not and to determine if vitamin C supplements could help prevent it. Systematic review and meta-analysis. We registered our protocol with PROSPERO (CRD42022371644). We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus through February 15, 2024. Additionally, backward and forward citation searches were conducted. Studies were selected based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Meta-Essentials: Workbooks for Meta-Analysis (version 1.5) was used for analysis. Twenty-five studies (26 reports) met all eligibility criteria, with 18 studies (18 reports) assessing vitamin C levels and seven studies (eight reports) evaluating efficacy. Women with PROM, whether preterm or term, had significantly lower vitamin C levels [Hedges’ g, -1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): -2.82, -0.14; p = 0.020; I2 = 94.08%) and specifically preterm PROM after removing the outlying study [Hedges’ g, -1.29; 95% CI: -1.85, -0.73; p < 0.001; I2 = 87.35%). Vitamin C supplementation significantly reduced the risk of preterm or term PROM [risk ratio (RR), 0.57; 95% CI: 0.39, 0.81; p < 0.001; I2 = 12.17%), particularly for preterm PROM (RR, 0.67; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.99; p = 0.001; I2 = 0.00%). There were no significant differences in vitamin C levels between women with term PROM and controls, and there were no differences in the risk of developing term PROM between women taking vitamin C supplements and controls. Results were not robust in all sensitivity analyses. Women with PROM, particularly those who developed it preterm, appear to have significantly lower vitamin C levels, and vitamin C supplementation appears to be effective in reducing the risk of PROM, particularly preterm PROM. More high-quality studies with low risk of bias, more homogenous, and larger samples are needed to confirm these findings.

Labor patterns of spontaneous first-stage labor in Chinese women with normal neonatal outcomes.

Friedman's standards, developed almost 50 years ago, may no longer align with the needs of today's obstetric population and current pregnancy management practices. This study aims to analyze contemporary labor patterns and estimate labor duration in China, focusing on first-stage labor data from Chinese parturients with a spontaneous onset of labor. This retrospective observational study utilized data from electronic medical records of a tertiary hospital in Changsha, Hunan. Out of a total of 2,689 parturients, exclusions were made for multiple gestations, preterm, post-term, or stillbirth, cesarean delivery, non-vertex presentation, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. Average labor curves were constructed by parity using repeated-measure analysis, and labor duration was estimated through interval-censored regression, stratified by cervical dilation at admission. We performed an analysis to assess the impact of oxytocin augmentation and amniotomy on labor progression and conducted a sensitivity analysis using women with complicated outcomes. Nulliparous women take over 180 minutes for cervical dilation from 3 to 4 cm, and the duration from 5 to 6 cm exceeds 145 minutes. Multiparous women experience shorter labor durations than nulliparous. Labor acceleration is observed after 5 cm in nulliparous, but no distinct inflection point is evident in the average labor curve. In the second stage of labor, the 95th percentile for nulliparous, with and without epidural analgesia, is 142 minutes and 127 minutes, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights for the reassessment of labor and delivery processes in contemporary obstetric populations, including current Chinese obstetric practice.

STUDY OF RELATIONSHIP OF DAILY FETAL MOVEMENT COUNT, AMNIOTIC FLUID INDEX, COLOUR DOPPLER WITH PERINATAL OUTCOME

Background: In 2015 there were 2.6 million stillbirths globally, with more than 7178 deaths a day. Because more than 75% fetal death occur before the onset of labor and IUGR constitutes 5% of perinatal morbidity and mortality, it would be essential to extend the principle of intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring to the antepartum period in an effort to prevent these fetal deaths and morbidity. Here comes the importance of Antepartum Fetal Surveillance (AFS). Antepartum Fetal Surveillance (AFS) is the assessment of fetal wellbeing in utero before the onset of labour. The main aim of antepartum fetal surveillance is to reduce perinatal mortality and morbidity and to avoid fetal death. Methods It is Prospective study conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, M.G.M. Medical College and M.Y. Hospital, Indore (M.P.) during the period from April 2015 to March 2016. The study has been started after the approval of topic by ethical and scientific review committee of MGM MEDICAL College, Indore. Results All the three seen to have significant correlation with perinatal outcome. Conclusion: In our study, all the three indices when abnormal were significantly associated with poor perinatal outcome. DFMC seen to be highly sensitive with more than half of the still births reporting with chief complaint of loss of fetal movements. So it can be considered as the earliest marker of fetal wellbeing with Color Doppler being highly specific predictor for early detection of IUGR.

Understanding maternal sepsis risk factors and bacterial etiology: A case control study protocol.

Maternal disorders are the third leading cause of sepsis globally, accounting for 5.7 million (12%) cases in 2017. There are increasing concerns about the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria commonly causing maternal sepsis. Our aim is to describe the protocol for a clinical and microbiology laboratory study to understand risk factors for and the bacterial etiology of maternal sepsis in a tertiary Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital. This case-control study aims to recruit 100 cases and 200 controls at Tu Du Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, which had approximately 55,000 births in 2022. Women aged ≥ 18 years and ≥ 28 weeks gestation having a singleton birth will be eligible for inclusion as cases or controls, unless they have an uncomplicated localised or chronic infection, or an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Cases will include pregnant or recently pregnant women with sepsis recognised between the onset of labour and/or time of delivery/cessation of pregnancy for up to 42 days post-partum. Sepsis will be defined as suspected or confirmed infection with an obstetrically modified Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score of ≥ 2, treatment with intravenous antimicrobials and requested cultures of any bodily fluid. Controls will be matched by age, location, parity, mode of delivery and gestational age. Primary and secondary outcomes are risk factors associated with the development of maternal sepsis, the frequency of adverse outcomes due to maternal sepsis, bacterial etiology and AMR profiles of cases and controls. This study will improve understanding of the epidemiology and clinical implications of maternal sepsis management including the presence of AMR in women giving birth in Vietnam. It will help us to determine whether women in this setting are receiving optimal care and to identify opportunities for improvement.