Alternative strategy to decrease cesarean section: support by doulas during labor.

This research was conducted in a public general hospital in Mexico City, Mexico. The objective was to evaluate efficacy of the support given by a doula during labor to reduce cesarean rate. From March 1997 to February 1998, a group of 100 pregnant women were studied. These women were at term, engaged in an active phase of labor, exhibited 3 cm. or more cervical dilatation, were nuliparous, had no previous uterine incision, and possessed adequate pelvises. The group was randomly divided into two subgroups comprising 50 women, each: The first subgroup had the support of a childbirth educator trained as a doula, while the second subgroup did not have doula support. Measurements were recorded on the duration of labor, the use of pitocin, and whether or not the birth was a vaginal birth or cesarean section. Characteristics and gestational age were similar in both groups. Results confirmed that support by doulas during labor was associated with a significant reduction in cesarean birth and pitocin administration. There was a trend toward shorter labors and less use of epidurals. The results of this study showed, as in other trials measuring the impact of a doula's presence during labor and birth, that doula support during labor is associated with positive outcomes that have physical, emotional, and economic implications.

[Evaluation of a new suture material, polyglecaprone (25) in gynecology and obstetrics]. / Valoración de un nuevo material de sutura, poliglecaprone (25) en ginecología y obstetricia.

A new synthetic absorbible suture was evaluated (poliglecaprone 25, in the Gynecology-Obstetric practice. 70 patients were studied, 33 obstetrical and 37 gynecological. We practiced trans and postoperative evaluations of the suture, as well as the characteristics of the tensil (stregth or force), memory, adjustment, etc. concluding that it is an excellent suture material and has great advantages over other materials.