Describing latent phase duration and associated characteristics among 1281 low‐risk women in spontaneous labor

Abstract Objective: To determine rates of maternal and perinatal outcomes after induction of labor (IOL) at 39 weeks compared with expectant management.Methods: Cohort study of low risk women delivered between 39-42 weeks from 2015 to 2018. We excluded births with fetal abnormalities, previous cesarean, multiple pregnancies or those with spontaneous onset of labor (SOL) or indicated delivery at 39 weeks. Data was abstracted from National Center for Health Statistics birth files. Relative risks (aRR) were estimated with multivariable log-binomial regression. Main Outcome Measures: Maternal outcomes: chorioamnionitis (Triple I), blood transfusion, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, uterine rupture, cesarean delivery and cesarean hysterectomy. Fetal and infant outcomes: fetal death, 5-minute Apgar ≤3, prolonged ventilation, seizures, ICU admission, and death within 28 days. Results: There were 15,900,956 births, with 8,540,063 after exclusions. The IOL group included 1,177,790 births excluding women with diabetes or hypertensive disease. There were 3,835,185 births after 39 weeks excluding women with diabetes or chronic hypertension. With IOL at 39 weeks the risk for blood transfusion (p-value < 0.01; aRR 0.78; 95% CI [0.75-0.82]), Triple I (p-value < 0.01; aRR 0.71; 95% CI [0.70-0.73]) and cesarean delivery (p-value <0.01; aRR 0.87; 95% CI [0.87-0.88]) were lower, albeit increased risk of cesarean hysterectomy (p-value <0.01; aRR 1.23; 95% CI [1.07-1.41]). Neonates had a lower risk for 5-minute Apgar ≤3 (p-value < 0.01; aRR 0.68; 95% CI [0.66-0.71]), prolonged ventilation (p-value < 0.01; aRR 0.84; 95% CI [0.81-0.87]), NICU admission (p-value < 0.01; aRR 0.86; 95% CI [0.85-0.87]), and neonatal seizures (p-value <0.01; aRR 0.85; 95% CI [0.76-0.96]). There was no difference in risk for neonatal death 0.99% (p-value 0.99; aRR 1.00; 95%CI [0.99-1.00]), or fetal death (p-value 0.78; aRR 1.0002; 95%CI [0.99-1.002]. This benefit was greater compared with each subsequent week.Conclusions: Induction of labor at 39 weeks of gestation in a low risk cohort is associated a lower risk of cesarean delivery, transfusions and infection, as well as lower neonatal morbidity, without difference in fetal or neonatal death. This appears to be associated with increased risk for cesarean hysterectomy.

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Intelligent Structured Intermittent Auscultation (ISIA): A Mixed Methods Evaluation of an Informed Decision-Making Framework for Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring

10.26686/wgtn.17000677 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Robyn Mary Maude

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Knowledge Translation ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Medical Records ◽

Fetal Heart ◽

Informed Decision ◽

Low Risk ◽

Informed Decision Making ◽

Low Risk Women

<p>Intermittent Auscultation (IA) of the fetal heart (FH) is a screening tool for the assessment of fetal well-being during labour; the detection of changes in the FH rate and rhythm may signal fetal compromise. While the evidence reveals that IA is as effective as continuous cardiotocography (CTG) for FH monitoring for low-risk women, current practitioners favour the use of continuous CTG despite the risk of significantly increased maternal and fetal morbidity. Translating the knowledge of the effectiveness of IA into practice became the primary aim of this study. While auscultation and palpation are essential midwifery skills, the teaching of IA does not go beyond simply outlining the protocol for frequency, duration, and timing and less is understood about the underlying physiology associated with what is heard and the reassurance of fetal wellbeing that this provides. A knowledge translation intervention, in the form of an evidence-based informed decision-making framework for Intelligent Structured Intermittent Auscultation (ISIA) and a comprehensive educational intervention were developed to enhance midwives‘ knowledge and awareness of IA and to influence decision-making and practice for FH monitoring for low-risk women. A mixed methods non-experimental pre- and post - intervention study design was used to evaluate the knowledge intervention. Pre measures included a retrospective review of 511 medical records to assess existing FH monitoring practices, and focus groups with 14 midwives explored barriers and facilitators to the use of IA. The intervention was then delivered to a mix of 33 midwives and doctors three months later, followed by a second review of 422 medical records and focus groups with seven midwives to determine any changes in practice and to evaluate outcomes. The findings revealed a statistically significant increase in the use of ISIA with improved documentation, and a relative decrease of 14% in the use an admission CTG for low risk women. The ISIA framework has wide applicability in all maternity settings. This research has illuminated the effects of culture, organisation and the socio-political context on the ability for midwives to utilise their fundamental midwifery skills to promote, facilitate and protect normal physiological birth in the institutional maternity care setting. Engagement with a Knowledge Translation project and the introduction of the ISIA framework for FHR monitoring for low risk women has given midwives voice to generate change.</p>

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