Prevention of spontaneous preterm birth: Guidelines for clinical practice from the French College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF).

In France, 60,000 neonates are born preterm every year (7.4%), half of them after the spontaneous onset of labor. Among preventable risk factors of spontaneous prematurity, only cessation of smoking is associated with decreased prematurity (level of evidence [LE]1). It is therefore recommended (Grade A). Routine screening and treatment of vaginal bacteriosis is not recommended in the general population (Grade A). The only population for which vaginal progesterone is recommended is that comprising asymptomatic women with singleton pregnancies, no history of preterm delivery, and a short cervix at 16-24 weeks of gestation (Grade B). A history-indicated cerclage is not recommended for women with only a history of conization (Grade C), uterine malformation (professional consensus), isolated history of preterm delivery (Grade B), or twin pregnancies for primary (Grade B) or secondary (Grade C) prevention of preterm birth. A history-indicated cerclage is recommended for a singleton pregnancy with a history of at least 3 late miscarriages or preterm deliveries (Grade A). Ultrasound cervical length screening is recommended between 16 and 22 weeks for women with a singleton previously delivered before 34 weeks gestation, so that cerclage can be offered if cervical length <25mm before 24 weeks (Grade C). A cervical pessary is not recommended for the prevention of preterm birth in a general population of asymptomatic women with twin pregnancies (Grade A) or in populations of asymptomatic women with a short cervix (professional consensus). Although the implementation of universal screening by transvaginal ultrasound for cervical length at 18-24 weeks of gestation in women with a singleton gestation and no history of preterm birth can be considered by individual practitioners, this screening cannot be universally recommended. In cases of preterm labor, (i) it is not possible to recommend any one of the several methods (ultrasound of the cervical length, vaginal examination, or fetal fibronectin assay) over any other to predict preterm birth (Grade B); (ii) routine antibiotic therapy is not recommended (Grade A); (iii) prolonged hospitalization (Grade B) and bed rest (Grade C) are not recommended. Compared with placebo, tocolytics are not associated with a reduction in neonatal mortality or morbidity (LE2) and maternal severe adverse effects may occur with all tocolytics (LE4). Atosiban and nifedipine (Grade B), unlike beta-agonists (Grade C), can be used for tocolysis in spontaneous preterm labor without preterm premature rupture of membranes. Maintenance tocolysis is not recommended (Grade B). Antenatal corticosteroid administration is recommended for all women at risk of preterm delivery before 34 weeks of gestation (Grade A). After 34 weeks, the evidence is insufficiently consistent to justify recommending systematic antenatal corticosteroid treatment (Grade B), but a course of this treatment might be indicated in clinical situations associated with high risk of severe respiratory distress syndrome, mainly in case of planned cesarean delivery (Grade C). Repeated courses of antenatal corticosteroids are not recommended (Grade A). Rescue courses are not recommended (Professional consensus). Magnesium sulfate administration is recommended for women at high risk of imminent preterm birth before 32 weeks (Grade A). Cesareans are not recommended for fetuses in vertex presentation (professional consensus). Both planned vaginal and elective cesarean delivery are possible for breech presentations (professional consensus). Delayed cord clamping may be considered if the neonatal or maternal state allows (professional consensus).

Postpartum practice: guidelines for clinical practice from the French College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF).

OBJECTIVE: To make evidence-based recommendations for the postpartum management of women and their newborns, regardless of the mode of delivery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Systematic review of articles from the PubMed database and the Cochrane Library and of recommendations from the French and foreign societies or colleges of obstetricians. RESULTS: Because breast-feeding is associated with reductions in neonatal, infantile, and childhood morbidity (lower frequency of cardiovascular, infectious, and atopic diseases and infantile obesity) (LE2) and improved cognitive development in children (LE2), exclusive and extended breastfeeding is recommended (grade B) for at least 4-6 months (professional consensus). Pharmacological treatments for inhibition of lactation should not be given routinely to women who do not wish to breastfeed (professional consensus). Because of potentially serious adverse effects, bromocriptine is contraindicated in inhibiting lactation (professional consensus). For women aware of the risks of pharmacological treatments to inhibit lactation but choose to take them, lisuride and cabergoline are the preferred drugs (professional consensus). Regardless of the mode of delivery, only women with bleeding or symptoms of anemia should be tested for it (professional consensus). Immediate postoperative monitoring after cesarean delivery should be performed in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). An analgesic multimodal protocol for analgesia, preferring oral administration, should be developed by the medical team and be available for all staff (professional consensus) (grade B). Thromboprophylaxis with compression stockings should begin the morning of all cesarean deliveries and maintained for at least 7 postoperative days (professional consensus) with or without the addition of LMWH, depending on the presence and severity (major or minor) of additional risk factors. It is recommended that women be informed of the dangers of closely spaced pregnancies (LE3), that effective contraception begin no later than 21 days post partum for women who do not want such a pregnancy (grade B), and that it be prescribed at the maternity ward (professional consensus). In view of the postpartum risk of venous thromboembolism, use of combination hormonal contraception is not recommended before six weeks post partum (grade B). Pelvic floor rehabilitation in asymptomatic women to prevent urinary or anal incontinence in the medium or long term is not recommended (professional consensus). Rehabilitation using pelvic floor muscle contraction exercises is recommended to treat persistent urinary incontinence at 3 months post partum (grade A), regardless of the type of incontinence. Postpartum pelvic floor rehabilitation is recommended to treat anal incontinence (grade C), but not to treat or prevent prolapse (grade C) or dyspareunia (grade C). The months following the birth are a period of transition and of psychological changes for all parents (LE2) and are still more difficult for those with psychosocial risk factors (LE2). Situations of evident psychological difficulties can have a significant effect on the child's psychological and emotional development (LE3). Among these difficulties, postpartum depression is most common, but the risk of all mental disorders is generally higher in the perinatal period (LE3). CONCLUSION: The postpartum period presents clinicians with a unique and privileged opportunity to address the physical, psychological, social, and somatic health of women and babies.

Postpartum hemorrhage: guidelines for clinical practice from the French College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF): in collaboration with the French Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (SFAR).

Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is defined as blood loss ≥500mL after delivery and severe PPH as blood loss ≥1000mL, regardless of the route of delivery (professional consensus). The preventive administration of uterotonic agents just after delivery is effective in reducing the incidence of PPH and its systematic use is recommended, regardless of the route of delivery (Grade A). Oxytocin is the first-line prophylactic drug, regardless of the route of delivery (Grade A); a slowly dose of 5 or 10 IU can be administered (Grade A) either IV or IM (professional consensus). After vaginal delivery, routine cord drainage (Grade B), controlled cord traction (Grade A), uterine massage (Grade A), and routine bladder voiding (professional consensus) are not systematically recommended for PPH prevention. After caesarean delivery, placental delivery by controlled cord traction is recommended (grade B). The routine use of a collector bag to assess postpartum blood loss at vaginal delivery is not systematically recommended (Grade B), since the incidence of severe PPH is not affected by this intervention. In cases of overt PPH after vaginal delivery, placement of a blood collection bag is recommended (professional consensus). The initial treatment of PPH consists in a manual uterine examination, together with antibiotic prophylaxis, careful visual assessment of the lower genital tract, a uterine massage, and the administration of 5-10 IU oxytocin injected slowly IV or IM, followed by a maintenance infusion not to exceed a cumulative dose of 40IU (professional consensus). If oxytocin fails to control the bleeding, the administration of sulprostone is recommended within 30minutes of the PPH diagnosis (Grade C). Intrauterine balloon tamponade can be performed if sulprostone fails and before recourse to either surgery or interventional radiology (professional consensus). Fluid resuscitation is recommended for PPH persistent after first line uterotonics, or if clinical signs of severity (Grade B). The objective of RBC transfusion is to maintain a haemoglobin concentration (Hb) >8g/dL. During active haemorrhaging, it is desirable to maintain a fibrinogen level ≥2g/L (professional consensus). RBC, fibrinogen and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) may be administered without awaiting laboratory results (professional consensus). Tranexamic acid may be used at a dose of 1 g, renewable once if ineffective the first time in the treatment of PPH when bleeding persists after sulprostone administration (professional consensus), even though its clinical value has not yet been demonstrated in obstetric settings. It is recommended to prevent and treat hypothermia in women with PPH by warming infusion solutions and blood products and by active skin warming (Grade C). Oxygen administration is recommended in women with severe PPH (professional consensus). If PPH is not controlled by pharmacological treatments and possibly intra-uterine balloon, invasive treatments by arterial embolization or surgery are recommended (Grade C). No technique for conservative surgery is favoured over any other (professional consensus). Hospital-to-hospital transfer of a woman with a PPH for embolization is possible once hemoperitoneum is ruled out and if the patient's hemodynamic condition so allows (professional consensus).