background: lack of information regarding biochemical changes in women during labor and its outcomes on maternal and neonatal health still is an unanswered question. this study aims to explore the effectiveness of oral carbohydrate intake during labor on the duration of the active phase and other maternal and neonatal outcomes. methods: a parallel prospective randomized controlled trial, conduc...

BACKGROUND Abnormal labor is one of the common emergency obstetric problems contributing for more than two-thirds of the unplanned cesarean section. In Ethiopia, although labor abnormality and its complications like obstetric fistula are highly prevalent, there is no published study that determines the predictors of labor abnormalities. METHODS The study design was an unmatched case control w...

BACKGROUND The most common indication for cesarean section (CS) in nulliparous women is dystocia secondary to ineffective myometrial contractility. The aim of this study was to identify a molecular profile in myometrium associated with dystocic labor. METHODS Myometrial biopsies were obtained from the upper incisional margins of nulliparous women undergoing lower segment CS for dystocia (n = ...

This study was designed to assess the effect of inflatable obstetric belts on uterine fundal pressure in the management of the second stage of labor. One hundred twenty-three nulliparas with a singleton cephalic pregnancy at term were randomized. Standard care was performed in the control group, and uterine fundal pressure by the Labor Assister (Baidy M-420/Curexo, Inc., Seoul, Korea) was utili...

OBJECTIVE We examined the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in general and the new Freemom TENS device (LifeCare, Israel) in particular, for pain relief during labor and delivery. METHODS The study group consisted of 104 women. Forty-six nulliparas (44.2%) and 58 multiparas (55.8%), all of whom used the TENS device for pain relief during labor. All participants co...

The objectives of this experimental, randomized, controlled trial study were to evaluate the effect of immersion baths on the length of the first stage of childbirth labor and on the frequency and length of the uterine contractions. Data were collected in a philanthropic public maternity hospital of the city of São Paulo whose month average is 1,100 births. The sample was comprised of 108 women...

AIMS To determine the quality of intrapartum uterine activity (UA) monitoring in daily practice during the first and second stage of labor. The total duration of inadequate UA monitoring is quantified in relation to the technique applied: external or internal. METHODS One hundred and ninety-two UA recordings, collected from 1 April 2006 untill 1 October 2006 from consecutive deliveries at the...