ABSTRACT
Background: Non-stress test is the most widely used test to assess fetal status. The presence of beat-to-beat variability is reassuring while its absence is not reassuring
Methods: In this single-blind clinical trial, 213 pregnant women with gestational age of 37 - 41 weeks were randomly allocated into three groups [auditory intervention for mother, auditory intervention for fetus, and control], each containing 71 subjects. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey HSD test and Kruskal-Wallis test. In addition, paired t-test was used to compare each group before and after the intervention
Results: The results showed a significant difference among the three groups regarding beat-to-beat variability of fetal heart rate in the second 10 minutes of the test [P = 0.006]. Besides, the results of Tukey HSD test indicated that this difference was significant between the control group and auditory intervention for mother group [P = 0.004]. Moreover, the results of t-test showed a significant difference in beat-to-beat variability of fetal heart rate between the first and the second 10 minutes of the test in both groups of auditory intervention for mother [P < 0.001] and for fetus [P < 0.001]
Conclusions: Since beat-to-beat variability of the fetal heart rate is indicator of fetal health, music intervention can be used to increase the number of accelerations and reduce false positive results in NST
ABSTRACT
Premature rupture of membranes [PROM] affects 10-20% of all pregnancies, occuring in approximately 30% to 40% of preterm deliveries. Vitamin C has a role in collagen metabolism and increases resistance maintenance of the chorioamniotic membranes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between vitamin C supplementation with PROM and preterm delivery. This clinical-trial study carried out from Jan to Jul 2006 at Hafez and Shoushtari Hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. This study was approved by the local committee of medical ethics. Pregnant women [n=117] with 20 weeks gestational age, randomly divided into two groups 57 in the case group and 60 in the control group and evaluated every 4 weeks, from 20 to 36 weeks of pregnancy. At each evaluation, a vaginal examination was performed, to rule out bacterial vaginosis infection. The case group received a chewing tablet of 100 mg vitamin C daily. PROM and preterm delivery was recorded for each group as indicator of the protective effect of vitamin C supplementation. PROM occurred in 5 [8.77%] and 22 [36.67%] pregnancies in the case and control group respectively [p<0.001]. Four patients [7.41%] in the case group and 18 pregnant women [32.08%] in the control group delivered at term with PROM [p=0.001]. One woman [33.30%] in the case group and 4 women [57.10%] in the control group delivered due to PROM at term [p> 0.5]. Supplementation of vitamin C after 20 weeks of gestation prevents PROM