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PubMedDate not supplied

Predicting the duration of the first stage of spontaneous labor using a neural network.

To create a neural network that predicts the length of the first stage of term labor. Two hundred patients with gestations > or = 36 weeks, in spontaneous active labor are the study group: 159 for training and 41 for testing; 4 training set patients had second-stage cesarean section for obstructed labor. The network is designed with Brainmaker MacIntosh 1.0 (California Scientific Software). Inputs are uterine activity, estimated fetal weight, position, station, and gestational age; maternal parity, age, height, weight, membrane status, and cervical dilatation. Actual first stages are regressed on those predicted by the network or by a standard partogram set. Differences between actual first stage lengths and those predicted by the neural network or partogram are compared with t-tests; while the proportions of first stages accurately predicted within 1 or 2 h are compared for both methods with chi-square tests. The network trained in 4 h (1388 runs) to a 0.15 tolerance. The network predictions have significantly higher correlation (r = 0.88) than do standard partograms (r = 0.35) with actual first stage durations. Mean differences between predicted and actual first stages are significantly lower for network output than with partograms; these differences increased with first stages exceeding 3 h; 100% of trained network values are within 2 h of actual first stage length. The network performs similarly for a new set of 41 previously unseen labors. This neural network predicts the length of the first stage of spontaneous labor and uses inputs readily available to obstetricians. It outperforms typical partograms for estimating this important feature of normal labor. Future application for intrapartum prognosis could be based on this successful design.

Artificial Intelligence↗

PubMed2006

Maternal position during the first stage of labor: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Policy makers and health professionals are progressively using evidence-based rationale to guide their decisions. There has long been controversy regarding which maternal position is more appropriate during the first stage of labor. This problem has been examined often and repeatedly and the optimal recommendation remains unclear. METHODS: This is a systematic review of the effect of maternal position during the first stage of labor. The main question addressed here is: Does encouraging women to adopt an upright position or to ambulate during the first stage of labor reduce the duration of this stage? All randomized controlled trials carried out to assess this effect were taken into consideration in this review. The following electronic databases were accessed to identify studies: MEDLINE, Popline, the Scientific Electronic Library On-line and the Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information. Citation eligibility was independently assessed by two reviewers. The methodological quality of each trial was also evaluated independently by two reviewers and a trial under consideration was included only when consensus had been attained. Allocation concealment and screening for the occurrence of attrition, performance and detection biases were considered when studies were appraised. The decision whether to perform data pooling was based on the clinical similarity of studies. RESULTS: The search strategy resulted in 260 citations, of which 18 were assessed in full-text. Nine eligible randomized controlled trials were included in the systematic review. Randomization methods were not fully described in eight studies. The allocation concealment was considered adequate in four studies and unclear in five. The investigators pooled the data from seven studies in which the length of the first stage of labor and results were in favor of the intervention, but the high level of heterogeneity (I2 = 88.4%) impaired the meaning of this finding. The intervention did not affect other outcomes studied (mode of delivery, use of analgesia, labor augmentation and condition of the child at birth). CONCLUSION: Adoption of the upright position or ambulation during first stage of labor may be safe, but considering the available evidence and its consistency, it cannot be recommended as an effective intervention to reduce duration of the first stage of labor.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Pain relief by applying transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on acupuncture points during the first stage of labor: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is one of the non-pharmacological means of pain relief for labor and delivery. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of TENS on specific acupuncture points for reducing pain in the first stage of labor. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned healthy full-term parturients in active phase of first-stage labor to either TENS on four acupuncture points (Hegu [Li 4] and Sanyinjiao [Sp 6]) (n=52) or the TENS placebo (n=53). Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess pain before and 30 and 60 min after treatment. The primary outcome was the rate of VAS score decrease 3 in each group. A questionnaire was given at 24h post-partum to evaluate the satisfaction of pain relieving method and the willingness to have the same treatment again. Mode of delivery and neonatal effect were measured as secondary outcome. One hundred women were eligible for analysis. TENS group experienced VAS score reduction 3 significantly more common than the TENS placebo group (31/50 [62%] vs 7/50 [14%], P<0.001). Willingness of using the same analgesic method for a future childbirth was also significantly different (TENS: 48/50 [96%] vs TENS placebo: 33/50 [66%], P<0.001). Operative delivery was increased in the TENS group (12/50 [24%] vs 4/50 [8%], P=0.05), but the neonatal outcomes were not different. The application of TENS on specific acupuncture points could be a non-invasive adjunct for pain relief in the first stage of labor.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗

PubMed2003

Analgesic efficacy of intramuscular opioids versus epidural analgesia in labor.

OBJECTIVES: To compare analgesic efficacy of intramuscular opioids: meperidine and tramadol with epidural analgesia. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight term nulliparous women with singleton pregnancy and vertex presentation were randomized to receive either epidural (n=43), meperidine (n=39) or tramadol (n=44). A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the severity of pain. The parameters analyzed were analgesic efficacy, effect on labor, other maternal side effects, perinatal outcome and maternal satisfaction. RESULTS: Median VAS scores following first dose were 0 (0-5), 5 (3-8) and 5 (3-8) in epidural, meperidine and tramadol groups, respectively. Ninety percent of women rated analgesia as good to excellent in the epidural group as compared with 72% of women in the meperidine group and 65% in tramadol group. However, epidural caused a significant prolongation of first (P<0.05) and second (P<0.01) stage of labor with an increased number of operative deliveries (27% in the epidural, 7.6% in the meperidine, and 11.4% in the tramadol groups, P<0.05). In the epidural group 40% women had urinary retention and 16% had motor weakness, whereas sedation was the only side effect seen in the meperidine (41%) and tramadol groups (9%). Respiratory depression was noted among three neonates in the meperidine group, two in the tramadol group and none in the epidural group. CONCLUSIONS: The analgesic efficacy and maternal satisfaction is better with epidural analgesia than with opioids. Analgesia provided by meperidine and tramadol is comparable and approximately 50% of women rated the analgesia as good. Meperidine is better in the second stage than tramadol. Hence in developing nations where availability of facilities is the main limiting factor, intramuscular opioids can be considered suitable alternatives.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Intrapartum fetal heart rate assessment: monitoring by auscultation or electronic means.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the frequency with which auscultation could be used as the primary mode of fetal assessment during labor in a busy labor and delivery suite by means of published criteria. STUDY DESIGN: During a 3-month period, 862 patients in labor with live fetuses between 24 and 43 weeks of gestation were available for auscultation in the prospective study. Auscultation was initiated during a contraction and extended for 30 seconds after uterine activity ceased. It was repeated every 15 minutes in the first stage and every 5 minutes in the second stage of labor. RESULTS: In 420 patients this modality was not begun because of inability of the nurses to meet 1:1 staffing requirements. In 19 patients auscultation was not performed because of obesity (12) or patient refusal (7). Of the 423 assessed by auscultation 392 were unable to complete monitoring caused by the frequency requirement (n = 212) or the recording criteria (n = 163). Of the 31 patients where auscultation was successfully completed, there was a 1:1 nurse ratio during the entire labor. CONCLUSIONS: Auscultation with stringent evaluation and recording frequency is not feasible under normal labor and delivery room conditions unless 1:1 nursing care is always available.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Lumbar sympathetic blocks speed early and second stage induced labor in nulliparous women.

BACKGROUND: Rapid cervical dilation reportedly accompanies lumbar sympathetic blockade, whereas epidural analgesia is associated with slow labor. The authors compared the effects of initial lumbar sympathetic block with those of epidural analgesia on labor speed and delivery mode in this pilot study. METHODS: At a hospital not practicing active labor management, full-term nulliparous patients whose labors were induced randomly received initial lumbar sympathetic block or epidural analgesia. The latter patients received 10 ml bupivacaine, 0.125%; 50 microg fentanyl; and 100 microg epinephrine epidurally and sham lumbar sympathetic blocks. Patients to have lumbar sympathetic blocks received 10 ml bupivacaine, 0.5%; 25 microg fentanyl; and 50 microg epinephrine bilaterally and epidural catheters. Subsequently, all patients received epidural analgesia. RESULTS: Cervical dilation occurred more quickly (57 vs. 120 min/cm cervical dilation; P = 0.05) during the first 2 h of analgesia in patients having lumbar sympathetic blocks (n = 17) than in patients having epidurals (n = 19). The second stage of labor was briefer in patients having lumbar sympathetic blocks than in those having epidurals (105 vs. 270 min; P < 0.05). Nine patients having lumbar sympathetic block and seven having epidurals delivered spontaneously, whereas seven patients having lumbar sympathetic block and seven having epidurals had instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries. Cesarean delivery for fetal bradycardia occurred in one patient having lumbar sympathetic block. Cesarean delivery for dystocia occurred in five patients having epidurals compared with no patient having lumbar sympathetic block (P = not significant). Visual analog pain scores differed only at 60 min after block. CONCLUSIONS: Nulliparous parturients having induced labor and receiving initial lumbar sympathetic blocks had faster cervical dilation during the first 2 h of analgesia, shorter second-stage labors, and a trend toward a lower dystocia cesarean delivery rate than did patients having epidural analgesia. The effects of lumbar sympathetic block on labor need to be determined in other patient groups. These results may help define the tocodynamic effects of regional labor analgesia.

Analgesia, Epidural↗

PubMed1982

[The observation of the maternal hemodynamics during labor and cesarean section (author's transl)].

The echocardiographic observation of the maternal hemodynamics was performed in 12 normal parturient women during labor and 10 patients during cesarean section. In the first stage of labor, the increase of cardiac output volume (CO) was observed during contraction as compared with that between contraction. And this increase of CO was due to the increase of heart rate (HR) t 4-5cm dilatation of cervix, and the increase of stroke volume (SV) at 7-8cm dilatation of cervix. In the second stage of labor, the increase of HR and mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (mVcf), and the decrease of ejection time, end-diastolic volume, SV, CO and ejection fraction (EF) were observed during contraction with expulsive efforts as compared with those in late pregnancy. These changes suggest that the severe hypovolemic stress is imposed, which may be caused by a decrease of venous return. The increase of HR and the decrease of SV, CO, EF, mVcf and LAD were observed 15 minutes after the epidural anesthesia as compared with those in late pregnancy, and these changes also suggest that the hypovolemic stress is imposed, which may depend on a decrease of venous return. The increase of CO was observed 3 and 5 minutes after delivery in labor and cesarean section as compared with those in late pregnancy. This increase of CO was due to the increase of HR and SV in labor, and the increase of HR in cesarean section. Consequently, the changes of maternal hemodynamics during labor imply to be greater than those during cesarean section, and this may depend on such factors as pains, expulsive efforts and cyclic blood volume redistribution during labor.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Intrathecal analgesia for labor.

Intrathecal analgesia is a highly effective technique for pain relief in the first stage of labor. It is a technically simple procedure that can be easily learned by family physicians currently performing diagnostic lumbar puncture. Its effectiveness, simplicity, and low incidence of serious complications make it especially applicable to the practices of physicians delivering babies in areas where continuous epidural anesthesia is not available. This article describes the procedure of intrathecal analgesia, and discusses advantages, complications, side effects, and applications.

Analgesia, Epidural↗

PubMed2003

Minimum analgesic doses of fentanyl and sufentanil for epidural analgesia in the first stage of labor.

UNLABELLED: In this study, we sought to determine the minimum analgesic doses and relative potencies of fentanyl and sufentanil when they are used as the sole epidural analgesic during the first stage of labor. Nulliparous parturients (n = 66) in spontaneous labor at term gestation and requesting epidural analgesia were enrolled into this prospective, double-blinded, randomized, sequential-allocation study. Each woman received fentanyl or sufentanil diluted with 0.9% wt/vol saline to a volume of 10 mL. The initial dose was arbitrarily chosen to be 125 microg for fentanyl and 25 microg for sufentanil, with subsequent doses being determined by the response of the previous patient (testing interval, 5 microg for fentanyl and 1 microg for sufentanil). Efficacy was accepted if the visual analog score decreased to < or =10 mm on a 100-mm scale within 30 min. The minimum analgesic dose or median effective dose was 21.1 microg (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.2-21.9 microg) for sufentanil and 124.2 microg (95% CI, 118.1-130.6 microg) for fentanyl (P < 0.0001). The sufentanil/fentanyl potency ratio was 5.9 (95% CI, 5.6-6.3). In conclusion, we have established the equivalent doses and relative potencies of fentanyl and sufentanil for epidural analgesia in the first stage of labor. IMPLICATIONS: This study determined the minimum analgesic doses of fentanyl and sufentanil for epidural anesthesia in the first stage of labor. The sufentanil/fentanyl potency ratio was 5.9. This ratio may be used to establish the equivalent doses for fentanyl and sufentanil for epidural analgesia in labor.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Obstetric analgesia using continuous epidural perfusion of bupivacaine, adrenaline, and fentanyl].

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy and complications of continuous epidural perfusion of bupivacaine, adrenaline and fentanyl in the relief of pain during first and second stage labour during vaginal birth. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1990 and March 1993 we used continuous epidural perfusion for control of pain during labor in 1307 women. The solution administered through an epidural catheter and maintained until expulsion was one 10 ml bolus of bupivacaine 0.25% with adrenaline 1:200,000 and fentanyl 25 micrograms followed by continuous perfusion of bupivacaine 0.0625% with adrenaline 1:200,000 and fentanyl 2 micrograms/ml at an infusion rate of 12 ml/h. When analgesia was insufficient, a bolus of local anesthetic was administered or a pudendal block was carried out. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent of the birthing women reported good analgesic effect during the first stage; for 7% the effect was fair and for 0.55% it was poor. During the second stage 88% reported satisfactory analgesia, and 8% fair or poor. Assessment was not possible for the remaining women, who underwent cesarean sections. Complications were few and easily controllable. CONCLUSIONS: Maintenance of epidural perfusion with 0.0625% bupivacaine with adrenaline 1:200,000 and fentanyl 2 micrograms/ml provides sufficient analgesia during all stages of childbirth.

Analgesia, Epidural↗

PubMed2004

A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of oxytocin at the beginning versus the end of the third stage of labor for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the administration of oxytocin at the beginning and end of the third stage of labor for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage. METHODS: Patients with documented singleton pregnancies were randomly assigned to two groups. The first received 10 units of oxytocin intramuscularly at delivery of the anterior shoulder of the fetus and an identical appearing placebo injection following delivery of the placenta. The second received the opposite medication sequence. The study was double blinded. Blood loss was measured by weighing all fluids collected, visual estimation, and serial blood counts. RESULTS: 27 women received oxytocin at the delivery of the fetal shoulder and 24 after the placenta. Oxytocin given after placenta delivery resulted in lower blood loss (345 vs. 400 ml, p = 0.28), lower collection bag weight (763 vs. 833 g, p = 0.55), lower change in HgB (-1.26 vs. -1.32 g, p = 0.86), lower DeltaHCT (-3.43 vs. -3.64%, p = 0.85), and a shorter third stage of labor duration (8.6 vs. 9.2 min, p = 0.75). The incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, defined as estimated blood loss >500 ml (0 vs. 14.8%) was significantly lowered with oxytocin following placental delivery (p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, postpartum hemorrhage was less frequent when oxytocin administration was delayed until after placenta delivery.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Collagenase activity in the cervix of non-pregnant and pregnant women.

Cervical biopsies were obtained from non pregnant patients and from pregnant at various stages of gestation and during labour. The tissues were extract with a Ca(++)-containing buffer, and collagenase activity was determined in these extracts using a solid phase assay in which triple helical 125I-labelled collagen was cleaved. Collagenase was detected in all samples but significantly elevated activity was only present in labour at 6-8 cm cervical dilatation. This provides direct evidence for the crucial role of specific collagen degradation during cervical ripening and dilatation.

Abortion, Induced↗

PubMed1999

Evaluation of cerebral perfusion pressure changes in laboring women: effects of epidural anesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of epidural anesthesia on cerebral perfusion pressure in laboring women. STUDY DESIGN: Maternal cerebral blood flow velocity was assessed in seven laboring patients with continuous epidural anesthesia and 15 without, using transcranial Doppler. Maternal cerebral blood flow velocity was assessed during the first stage at the trough of a contraction, at the peak of a contraction and at the second stage during pushing over the course of four contractions. Calculated estimated cerebral perfusion pressure: eCPP = Vmean/(Vmean - Vdiastolic) x (mean BP - diastolic BP), where V is velocity and BP is blood pressure; modified from Aaslid and colleagues. An index of cerebrovascular resistance, the resistance area product, was calculated: RAP = mean BP/mean velocity. We calculated an index of cerebral blood flow (cerebral blood flow index): CBF index = eCPP/RAP. RESULTS: In non-epidural patients, the eCPP fell significantly at the peak of a contraction and during pushing. Cerebrovascular resistance, RAP, rose significantly during the peak of a contraction, although cerebral blood flow did not change. In patients undergoing epidural anesthesia, the stages of labor had no significant effect on eCPP or RAP; however, these values were lower than those in patients without epidural anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: The epidural group had a lower eCPP and RAP and cerebral blood flow index compared to the non-epidural group. In the non-epidural group, the mean arterial pressure was higher in all stages of labor with a trend towards an increase in eCPP and cerebral blood flow index.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Maternal posture in labour.

The position adopted naturally by women during birth has been described as early as 1882 by Engelmann. He observed that primitive woman, not influenced by Western conventions would try to avoid the dorsal position and was allowed to change position as and when she wished. Different upright positions could be achieved using posts, slung hammock, furniture, holding on to a rope, knotted piece of cloth, or the woman could kneel, crouch, or squat using bricks, stones, a pile of sand, or a birth stool. Today the majority of women in Western societies deliver in a dorsal, semi-recumbent or lithotomy position. It is claimed that the dorsal position enables the midwife/obstetrician to monitor the fetus better and thus to ensure a safe birth. This paper examines the historical background of the different positions used and its evolution throughout the decades. We have reviewed the available evidence about the effectiveness, benefits and possible disadvantages for the use of different positions during the first and second stage of labour.

Female↗

PubMed1981

Maternal positions in labor: analysis in relation to comfort and efficiency.

The influence of maternal position during labor on comfort and uterine efficiency was studied by contrasting the influence of sitting in a chair with lying on the side during the first stage of labor. Nineteen primigravidas alternated between these two positions at 30 minute intervals for as long as this was possible during their labors. There was a significant difference in their preference to sit up during early labor (less than 6 cm dilation) and lie on their side during late labor (greater than 6 cm dilation). Uterine efficiency, however, was significantly less (p less than 0.05) in early labor in the sitting position than on the side. After labor was well established, ie after 6 cm dilation, the efficiency of uterine contractions to dilate the cervix was not significantly different between the 2 positions although it was less in the sitting position. The lateral recumbent position was accompanied by more efficient labor and was preferred by most women in late labor. Localization of pain and fetal position also seem to be associated with maternal position preference, and both factors require further investigation.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Progress of labor and neonatal morbidity in primiparity with breech presentation].

Progress of labour in 100 consecutively delivered term ( > or = 37 weeks) primiparous breech births was analysed and correlated with fetal outcome according to different durations of first and second stages. All women had sonographic biometry prior to admission and epidural anaesthesia (PDA) early in established labour. Women with nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracings during any stage of labour were delivered by caesarean section, and were excluded. Birth weights were between 1980 g and 4090 g. There was no perinatal mortality, but eight neonates sustained birth associated trauma (6 Erb's palsies, two fractured long bones), all of which regressed spontaneously. Risk of neonatal trauma and of reduced Apgar scores was significantly associated with duration of the first stage but not of the second stage. It appears that short first stage duration (i.e. up to six hours) or a cervical dilatation rate of no less than 1 cm/h is associated with a very low risk of fetal trauma. In contrast, no upper limit of a second stage duration associated with low trauma risk could be seen in this group of parturients with effective continuous epidural anaesthesia. Assumptions regarding risks in primiparous labour progress for term breech labour may need to be reevaluated. The data presented are suitable for comparison with those from other centres and for metaanalyses.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Oxygen consumption and ventilation during normal labor.

Oxygen consumption (VO2) and minute ventilation (VE) were measured breath-by-breath for 10 min periods in the third trimester of pregnancy in 16 healthy women. These measurements were repeated during the first stage of labor in eight of the women. The 10-min mean VO2 was 3.56 ml/kg/min (+/- 0.82 SD) at term and 4.28 ml/kg/min (+/- 0.93) during labor, for an average increase of 23 percent (+/- 28 percent, p = 0.04) from third trimester to labor. The mean VE was 0.15 L/kg/min (+/- 0.03) at term and increased significantly (p = 0.05) to 0.24 L/kg/min (+/- 0.11) during labor for an average increase in VE of 65 percent (+/- 78 percent). Peak VO2 and VE occurred during contractions with five-breath average peak VO2 being 86 percent (+/- 53%) above the 10-min mean value at term and VE increasing 167 percent (+/- 154 percent) from third trimester to peak values during labor. These data may be useful in identifying patients at risk for developing respiratory insufficiency during labor. We propose an algorithm for approaching the obstetric patient with respiratory disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1980

Oxytocinase activity in the course of continuous lumbar epidural analgesia.

The oxytocinase activity in the blood serum, umbilical blood and homogenates from the placenta and umbilical cord was determined in 34 women in labor subjected to continuous lumbar epidural analgesia with 0.125 per cent bupivacaine and 1:800 000 epinephrine. The results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis and compared with a group of 30 patients in spontaneous labor without any drugs. Significantly higher oxytocinase activity was found in the women subjected to epidural analgesia. The increased oxytocinase activity was found to correlate with the duration of the first stage of labor. It is assumed that the increase in the oxytocinase activity in the course of continuous epidural analgesia is associated with diminished uterine contractions and is related to the effect of the particular anesthetic agent.

Aminopeptidases↗