[Delivery during time of shift change is not a risk factor for obstetric complication: a historical cohort study].

BACKGROUND: The time of shift change is a unique time because the continuity of routine care is interrupted. The association between delivery during time of shift change and obstetric complications has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that delivery during time of shift change is at risk for obstetric complications. METHODS: A historical cohort study was performed of all women with a singleton pregnancy undergoing a trial of labor at term during 2006-2010. Data was extracted from a computerized database that is continuously updated during Labor. The hour of delivery was divided into two categories: "morning shift" (09:30-15:00) and "time of shift change" which was defined 30 minutes prior to and 90 minutes past the official time of shift change, which occurs twice daily at 07:30 and 15:30. Multivariate logistic regression models were implemented to estimate the association between deliveries during "time of shift change" compared to "morning weekdays", with instrumental delivery (primary outcome) and prolonged second stage, unplanned cesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage, 5 minutes Apgar score < 7, admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and prolonged maternal hospitalization (secondary outcome). RESULTS: A total of 16,341 deliveries were included in the cohort. No statistical difference in instrumental vaginal delivery was documented for women delivering during "time of shift change compared to morning shift weekdays (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.83- 1.11, p = 0.605). None of the secondary outcomes were found at risk for women delivering during "time of shift change". CONCLUSIONS: Delivery during "time of shift change" does not pose additional risk for obstetric complications.

Primiparity: a traditional intrapartum obstetric risk reconfirmed.

BACKGROUND: Intrapartum risk is based mainly on obstetric history, which is lacking in primiparous women. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain whether the traditional known risk of primiparity is an independent variable for both maternal and neonatal outcome. METHODS: All women admitted to labor during March-April 2002 were canvassed for eligibility to participate in the study based on an obstetric risk scoring system developed and validated for our population. During the study period, 1473 women presented for delivery. Of these, 298 (20%) were eligible according to the exclusion criteria as "low risk" parturients: 135 (45%) were primiparous and 163 (55%) were multiparous (2-5 births). RESULTS: After correction for significant confounding factors, primiparity was revealed as an independent significant risk factor for instrumental delivery (odds ratio 15.5, 95%confidence interval 1.88-125) and for early postpartum hemorrhage (OR 5.6, 95%CI 1.9-16.6). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights early postpartum hemorrhage as a significant risk for primiparous women, independent of mode of delivery, and also confirms previous reports of maternal complications requiring transfer from birth centers/home deliveries to tertiary centers.

Digital rotation from occipito-posterior to occipito-anterior decreases the need for cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study prospectively the efficacy of digital rotation in reducing the prevalence of persistent occipito-posterior position (POP) and its consequences. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-one women with a singleton pregnancy were enrolled prospectively between July 2003 and July 2004. They were in the second stage of labor with the fetal head engaged in the occipito-posterior position. During the first period of the study women were allowed to continue labor without intervention (group I); during the second period, digital rotation was performed (group II). RESULTS: In group I 15% of the fetuses were delivered in the occipito-anterior position and 27% underwent spontaneous vaginal delivery, as opposed to 93% and 77%, respectively, when the procedure was performed-an increase in spontaneous vaginal delivery among the group undergoing rotation of more than 50% (p<0.0001). Cesarean section was performed in 23% and vacuum in 50% when the procedure was not performed (group I) in contrast to 0% and 23%, respectively, in the group undergoing rotation (0.0001). CONCLUSION: Digital rotation should be considered when managing the labor of a fetus in the occipito-posterior position. The maneuver successfully rotates the fetus reducing the need for cesarean section, instrumental delivery, and other complications associated with POP.