Decreases in preterm birth during the first COVID-19 lockdown in France by gestational age sub-groups and regional COVID-19 incidence.

PURPOSE: Given contradictory evidence about preterm birth (PTB) decreases during COVID-19 lockdowns, we investigate PTB rates during France's strict nationwide lockdown (March 17, 2020 to May 10, 2020). METHODS: This is an interrupted time series analysis using data on maternal delivery hospitalizations in France from January 01, 2016 to July 31, 2020 (3,448,286 singleton births ≥22 weeks' gestational age (GA)). Outcomes were weekly PTB rates (overall and by GA sub-group: <28, 28-31, 32-34, 35-36 weeks), stillbirth and cesarean birth. We estimate odds ratios (OR) using the lockdown period as exposed and other weeks as unexposed, nationally and for districts grouped by COVID-19 incidence. RESULTS: Of 96,076 singleton live births during the lockdown, 4,799 were preterm. PTB rates were 6% (OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.98) lower than expected over this period. This decrease occurred among births 35-36 weeks' GA (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87-0.98), with no detectable reductions for other GA groups. Cesarean and stillbirth rates were stable. Larger differences were observed in districts with low (OR: 0.92, 95% CI 0.87-0.98) versus moderate/high COVID-19 incidence (OR: 0.97, 95% CI 0.92-1.03). CONCLUSIONS: Late preterm births decreased during France's first lockdown without concurrent change in cesareans and stillbirths. Effects were not more pronounced in moderate/high-COVID-19 districts, contradicting expectations if healthcare disruption were a principal cause.

Methods of induction of labor and women's experience: a population-based cohort study with mediation analyses.

BACKGROUND: Negative childbirth experience may affect mother wellbeing and health. However, it is rarely evaluated in studies comparing methods of induction of labor (IoL). AIM: To compare women's experience of IoL according to the method, considering the mediating role of interventions and complications of delivery. METHODS: We used data from the MEDIP prospective population-based cohort, including all women with IoL during one month in seven French perinatal networks. The experience of IoL, assessed at 2 months postpartum, was first compared between cervical ripening and oxytocin, and secondarily between different cervical ripening methods. Mediation analyses were used to measure the direct and indirect effects of cervical ripening on maternal experience, through delivery with interventions or complications. FINDINGS: The response rate was 47.8% (n = 1453/3042). Compared with oxytocin (n = 541), cervical ripening (n = 910) was associated less often with feelings that labor went 'as expected' (adjusted risk ratio for the direct effect 0.78, 95%CI [0.70-0.88]), length of labor was 'acceptable' (0.76[0.71-0.82]), 'vaginal discomfort' was absent (0.77[0.69-0.85]) and with lower global satisfaction (0.90[0.84-0.96]). Interventions and complications mediated between 6 and 35% of the total effect of cervical ripening on maternal experience. Compared to the dinoprostone insert, maternal experience was not significantly different with the other prostaglandins. The balloon catheter was associated with less pain. DISCUSSION: Cervical ripening was associated with a less positive experience of childbirth, whatever the method, only partly explained by interventions and complications of delivery. CONCLUSION: Counselling and support of women requiring cervical ripening might be enhanced to improve the experience of IoL.

Dissatisfaction of women with induction of labour according to parity: Results of a population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors associated with dissatisfaction in women whose labour was induced, according to parity. DESIGN: Prospective population-based cohort study. SETTING: Seven French perinatal health networks including 94 maternity units PARTICIPANTS: Among 3042 consecutive women who underwent induction of labour (IoL) with a live foetus from November 17 to December 20, 2015, in participating maternity units, this study included the 1453 who answered the self-administered questionnaire about their experience of IoL at two months post-delivery. MEASUREMENTS: The associations between women's dissatisfaction at two months post-delivery and the characteristics of their pregnancy, labour, and delivery were assessed with multivariable logistic regression models. Analyses were stratified for nulliparous and parous women. Multivariable mixed models were used to take a random effect for the maternity unit into account. FINDINGS: The response rate was 47.8% (n = 1453/3042). Overall, 30% of the nulliparous women were dissatisfied (n = 231/770) and 19.7% (n = 130/659) of the parous women. The specific independent determinants of dissatisfaction for nulliparous women were antenatal birth classes that failed to include discussion of IoL (OR: 2.68, 95% CI [1.37; 5.23]) and lack of involvement in the decision-making process (OR: 1.92, 95% CI [1.23; 3.02]). For the parous women, a specific determinant was a delivery that lasted more than 24 h (OR: 4.04, 95% CI [1.78; 9.14]). Determinants of maternal dissatisfaction common to both groups were unbearable vaginal discomfort (respectively, OR: 1.98, 95% CI [1.16; 3.37] and OR: 4.23, 95% CI [2.04; 8.77]), inadequate pain relief (respectively, OR: 5.55, 95% CI [3.48; 8.86] and OR: 9.17, 95% CI [5.24; 16.02]), lack of attention to requests (respectively OR: 3.81, 95% CI [2.35; 6.19] and OR: 5.01, 95% CI [2.38; 10.52]), caesarean delivery (respectively, OR: 5.55, 95% CI [3.41; 9.03] and OR: 4.61, 95% CI [2.02; 10.53]) and severe maternal complications (respectively, OR: 2.45, 95% CI [1.02; 5.88] and OR: 5.29, 95% CI [1.32; 21.21]). KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: To reduce dissatisfaction in nulliparous women, IoL should be discussed during antenatal birth classes and women should be made to feel that they shared in the medical decision to perform IoL. For parous women, care providers should inform them that the duration of delivery may exceed 24 h. Continuous support for all women during IoL should pay closer attention to vaginal discomfort, pain and women's requests. Postpartum discussions with mothers should be arranged to enable conversation about the experience of unexpected events.

[Perineal consequences according to obstetric practices: A comparative study here and elsewhere, Canada and France]. / Conséquences périnéales selon les pratiques obstétricales: une étude comparative "ici-ailleurs" Canada-France.

OBJECTIVE: To study how differences in birth management can influence the frequency and types of perineal lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared outcomes and obstetric practices during labour and birth in low-risk primiparous women in two maternity units: one Canadian (maternitA Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec), one French (maternité Cochin-Port-Royal, Paris). We compared the occurrence of perineal lesions--episiotomy and severe perineal tear--in these two maternity units according to delivery method. Furthermore, we studied risk factors for perineal lesions using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Among the 1044 births in Montreal and the 1154 births in Paris, the Caesarian-section rate, about 19%, was comparable in both maternity units. Among primiparous women who had a vaginal delivery, the rate of instrumental extraction was higher in the French unit than in the Canadian one (28.2% vs. 21.5%, P < 0.001). The rate of episiotomy was significantly higher in the French unit (65.9%) than in the Canadian one (23.2%), whether the vaginal delivery was spontaneous (OR adjusted = 5.8 [4.4-7.7]) or assisted (OR adjusted = 120.2 [61.0-23.1]). The rate of severe perineal tear was significantly higher in the Canadian maternity unit (11.1%) than in the French one (1.3%), whether the vaginal delivery was spontaneous (OR adjusted = 17.4 [2.4-128.7]) or assisted (OR adjusted = 45.7 [6.1-343.4]). CONCLUSION: The significant differences in episiotomy and severe perineal tear rates observed in low-risk primiparous women are in part due to the different methods used to manage delivery in these two maternity units, particularly with regard to the angle of incision during episiotomy: median in Canada and median-lateral in France.

Routine third trimester ultrasound: what is the evidence?

Policies for routine third trimester obstetrical ultrasound examinations differ among countries. In Canada, a routine third trimester ultrasound scan is not offered in the low-risk pregnancy population. This practice is based mainly on results of a meta-analysis published in 2001 that concluded "routine late pregnancy ultrasound in low-risk or unselected populations does not confer benefit on mother or baby." We reviewed in detail each study included in this meta-analysis in order to re-evaluate the Canadian practice regarding routine third trimester ultrasound in the low-risk pregnant population. The meta-analysis included outdated techniques and ultrasound examinations performed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. To assess the effect of routine third trimester ultrasound on perinatal outcome, the interventions prompted by an abnormal diagnostic test result must be considered. None of the trials included in the meta-analysis evaluated the effect of routine third trimester ultrasound on perinatal outcomes in a low-risk population when ultrasound assessment was followed by an altered perinatal management plan. Our assessment of the published evidence regarding routine third trimester ultrasound puts in question the contemporary validity of the conclusion of the 2001 meta-analysis. In fact, the 2001 meta-analysis has recently been withdrawn by the authors.