Obstetrics and Gynecology
Uchenna Kenneth Ezemagu; Godwin Chinedu Uzomba; Chukwuemeka Ubochi; Rachel Ogbu; Augustine Oseloka Ibegbu; Friday Chubuzor Egba; Olisa Onuora; Paul O. Ezeonu; Thecla Ezeonu
Volume 9, Issue 2 , March and April 2024, , Pages 174-184
Abstract
Background & Objective: We considered maternal and birth anthropometric features and fetal sex in developing a labor protocol.Materials & Methods: A prospective study of 400 mothers, having healthy pregnancies and their newborn singletons in gynecology ward of Alex Ekwueme Federal University ...
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Background & Objective: We considered maternal and birth anthropometric features and fetal sex in developing a labor protocol.Materials & Methods: A prospective study of 400 mothers, having healthy pregnancies and their newborn singletons in gynecology ward of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. The study adopted a convenient sampling technique to select the volunteers from 1st July to December 2020. Birth and maternal anthropometries; BMI, height, weight, birth head girth (BHG), waist girth (WG), hip girth (HG) and delivery outcomes: birth mode and duration of 1st and 2nd phases of labor, and Apgar score at 1 minute of birth were measured, using Institute of Medicine guidelines.Results: Maternal age, weight, and HG, and WG at term pregnancy and fetal sex could determine birth mode and weight (P<0.05). The associations for duration of 1st phase of labor and maternal and birth anthropometries were inconsistent. Fetal sex, birth mode and features and maternal anthropometries; body fat, age, BMI and HG were associated with duration of 2nd phase of labor and Apgar score.Conclusion: Maternal anthropometries predispose birth features, and advance age of mothers, relatively large WHR and fetal macrosomia at term pregnancy could increase duration of 2nd phase of labor and risk of a male birth, developing abnormal Apgar score. The strong association between anthropometric variables of a mother and her baby suggests that anthropometric investigations could enhance the choice of birth mode and minimize vaginal birth complications. The study emphasized on the need of a sex specific state-of-the art anthropometric investigations at term pregnancy.
Soodabeh Darvish; Koorosh Etemad; Azar Mosaheb; Ghasem Yazdanpanah
Volume 2, Issue 2 , May and June 2017
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to compare maternal and neonatal side effects of natural vaginal delivery (NVD) under neuro-axial analgesia with usual NVD and C-section.
Methods: In this single center prospective cohort study, deliveries carried out in a 7 months’ period were evaluated after getting ...
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Objectives: This study aimed to compare maternal and neonatal side effects of natural vaginal delivery (NVD) under neuro-axial analgesia with usual NVD and C-section.
Methods: In this single center prospective cohort study, deliveries carried out in a 7 months’ period were evaluated after getting informed consent. The study is approved by the ethics committee of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Mothers were categorized into 3 groups of C-section, NVD with an analgesia, intervention, and usual NVD. Afterwards, maternal and neonatal side effects after delivery were assessed using physical examinations, laboratory results, and interviews.
Results: Overall, 121 mothers were equally assigned to 3 groups. No significant differences were found in the first and fifth-minute APGAR scores of the neonates born in these 3 groups. Moreover, none of the neonates’ fifth-minute APGAR scores were less than 7. In addition, hypoxia (umbilical artery pH < 7.2) was observed more in the neonates delivered by NVDs with analgesia interventions compared to the other 2 groups. In comparison with the mothers in the other 2 groups, headache and pruritus were more prevalent among the mothers who had NVDs under neuro-axial analgesia.
Conclusions: Given the advantages of natural vaginal deliveries for mothers and their fetuses and considering the side effects of C-sections without medical indications, propagating painless NVDs could be a proper solution for increasing the prevalence rate of NVDs in the society. Conducting further studies on larger samples is recommended.