The aim of this case control study was to evaluate the thus far controversially discussed influence of acupuncture (AP) on the duration of labor. Fifty-seven women with AP treatment (group A) were included in our study after spontaneous vaginal full-term delivery. The control group included 63 women (group B). Median duration of the first stage of labor was 196 min in group A and 321 min in gro...

BACKGROUND During the second stage of labor, the progression of the fetal expulsion depends on many factors related to maternal and fetal parameters, including the voluntary abdominal pushing. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to correlate the maternal and fetal parameters that may influence the voluntary maternal pushes during the second stage of labor by using surface electromyography. METHODS ...

AIM Developing a method of maximizing maternal expulsive effort should be of great value in reducing the number of cesarean sections or instrumental deliveries. Various investigations have shown that use of a dental support device (DSD) increases the isometric strength of different muscle groups. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of a DSD in second stage of pushing. METHODS Nul...

Labor pain is one of the most severe pains. Labor is a complex and individual process with varying maternal requesting analgesia. Labor analgesia must be safe and accompanied by minimal amount of unwanted consequences for both the mother and the child, as well as for the delivery procedure. Epidural analgesia is the treatment that best meets these demands. According to the American Congress of ...

BACKGROUND Guidelines for management of the second stage have been proposed since the 1800s and were created largely by expert opinion. Current retrospective data are mixed regarding differences in maternal and neonatal outcomes with a prolonged second stage. There are no randomized controlled trials that have evaluated whether extending the second stage of labor beyond current American College...

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of lack of progress in labor as a reason for cesarean delivery and to compare published diagnostic criteria with the labor characteristics of women with this diagnosis. METHODS We reviewed medical records and did a postpartum telephone survey to collect data from 733 women who delivered full-term, nonbreech infants by unplanned cesarean between March 1993 ...

Background: Delivery is one of the critical stressful incidents in lives of most women and its associated complications can disturb the progress of labor and exacerbate post partum problems. Chewing gum is one of the new non-pharmacological methods to reduce stress. So far no study has been conducted to investigate the effect of chewing gum on the stress of labor. Aim: To determine the effect o...

AIM To determine the effects of hyoscine-N-butyl bromide (HBB) rectal suppository on labor progress in primigravid women. METHODS A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out on 130 primigravid women admitted for spontaneous labor. The women were recruited based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomized into the experimental (n=65) and control group...