Comparison of Blood Loss in Induced vs. Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery Using Specialized Blood Collection Bag.

OBJECTIVE: To compare third stage blood loss in induced vs. spontaneous vaginal deliveries and to correlate the amount of blood loss with the decrease in haemoglobin following deliveries. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kasturba Hospital Manipal, Karnataka, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood loss following placental deliveries was measured by using special collection bags in 150 pregnant ladies who delivered vaginally by labour induction and it was compared with that of another 50 women who had spontaneous vaginal deliveries. Haemoglobin values were recorded for each patient prior to labour and after delivery of child. RESULTS: The mean blood loss in induced group was 30 mL more than that in spontaneous group (202 ± 117 mL vs. 172 ± 114 mL), but this was not statistically significant (p=0.12). However, when different methods of induction were compared, oxytocin group was found to have significantly higher blood loss (327 ± 140 mL) as compared to that in other types of labour inductions as well as spontaneous deliveries. Labour induction using prostaglandins did not produce more blood loss as compared that produced by spontaneous deliveries. Both induced and spontaneous delivery groups showed statistically significant drops in post-delivery haemoglobin values, but the drop was relatively more in induced group as compared to that in spontaneous vaginal delivery group (0.96gm/dL vs. 0.56gm/dL), which appeared to be statistically significant (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Labour induction using prostaglandins is safe as compared to oxytocin usage. Accurate estimation of blood loss is important in all types of deliveries, in order to detect postpartum haemorrhage early, so that appropriate measures can be undertaken.

Twin pregnancy with Hydatidiform Mole and Co-existent Live Fetus: Lessons Learnt.

This is a case report of a twin pregnancy with one fetus and a coexistent mole diagnosed at 13 weeks. After thorough counseling, the pregnancy was continued as per the patient's desire. The pregnancy was closely monitored with serial S ß hCG, ultrasound for fetal growth, size of molar sac, and theca lutein cysts, which gradually decreased in size during the second trimester of pregnancy. An emergency caesarean delivery was done at 36 weeks due to breech in early labour. A live baby weighing 1.8 kg was delivered in good condition. Her S ß hCG reached normal levels at the end of three weeks, and she is now on post-molar surveillance. Though the general trend is to terminate pregnancy in twins with coexistent mole in anticipation of complications, under close surveillance, optimal outcomes can be achieved. Monitoring of S ß hCG, serial ultrasound for fetal growth, size of molar component, and theca lutein cysts can help to predict good patient outcomes.

Recurrent familial hydatidiform mole - a rare clinical problem.

Familial recurrent hydatidiform mole is a rare event; here we report an unusual case of a gravida 5 aged 29 years, with five recurrent hydatidiform moles and no normal pregnancy. After the fourth molar pregnancy, she developed persistent trophoblastic disease that required 7 cycles of single agent chemotherapy. Two years after the treatment, she presented with her fifth molar pregnancy. Her elder sister had seven hydatidiform moles from two different unrelated male partners. As this is familial, and recurrent, with no viable conceptions in both the sisters, it is likely to be biparental in origin. Unlike androgenetic moles, biparental moles arise due to a global inherited failure of maternal imprinting. It is an autosomal recessive defect in the female germ line. Genetic analysis is essential, although it is not available in all centers. Donor Oocyte IVF is the only option for women with biparental moles to have normal offspring.