Association between Birth Plan Use and Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Southern Spain: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Birth plans are used for pregnant women to express their wishes and expectations about childbirth. The aim of this study was to compare obstetric and neonatal outcomes between women with and without birth plans. METHODS: A multicentre, retrospective case-control study at tertiary hospitals in southern Spain between 2009 and 2013 was conducted. A total of 457 pregnant women were included, 178 with and 279 without birth plans. Women with low-risk gestation, at full-term and having been in labour were included. Sociodemographic, obstetric and neonatal variables were analysed and comparisons were established. RESULTS: Women with birth plans were older, more educated and more commonly primiparous. Caesarean sections were less common in primiparous women with birth plans (18% vs. 29%, p = 0.027); however, no significant differences were found in instrumented births, 3rd-4th-degree tears or episiotomy rates. Newborns of primiparous women with birth plans obtained better results on 1 min Apgar scores, umbilical cord pH and advanced neonatal resuscitation. No significant differences were found on 5 min Apgar scores or other variables for multiparous women. CONCLUSIONS: Birth plans were related to less intervention, a more natural process of birth and better outcomes for mothers and newborns. Birth plans can improve the welfare of the mother and newborn, leading to birth in a more natural way.

Birth plan compliance and its relation to maternal and neonatal outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: to know the degree of fulfillment of the requests that women reflect in their birth plans and to determine their influence on the main obstetric and neonatal outcomes. METHOD: retrospective, descriptive and analytical study with 178 women with birth plans in third-level hospital. Inclusion criteria: low risk gestation, cephalic presentation, single childbirth, delivered at term. Scheduled and urgent cesareans without labor were excluded. A descriptive and inferential analysis of the variables was performed. RESULTS: the birth plan was mostly fulfilled in only 37% of the women. The group of women whose compliance was low (less than or equal to 50%) had a cesarean section rate of 18.8% and their children had worse outcomes in the Apgar test and umbilical cord pH; while in women with high compliance (75% or more), the percentage of cesareans fell to 6.1% and their children had better outcomes. CONCLUSION: birth plans have a low degree of compliance. The higher the compliance, the better is the maternal and neonatal outcomes. The birth plan can be an effective tool to achieve better outcomes for the mother and her child. Measures are needed to improve its compliance.

[Risk of uterine rupture in vaginal birth after cesarean: Systematic review]. / Riesgo de rotura uterina en el parto vaginal tras cesárea: revisión sistemática.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of uterine rupture (UR) in attempted vaginal birth after cesarean and to identify risk factors. METHODS: Systematic review by consulting the following databases: PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane Library Plus, Embase, Nursing@Ovid, Cuidatge and Dialnet. The search was conducted between January and March 2015. MeSH descriptors used were: vaginal birth after cesarean; uterine rupture; labor induced and labor obstetric or trial of labor. There were no restrictions on date or language. The selection of articles was performed by 2 independent reviewers, standardized and unblinded. A critical review of the summary was conducted, and if was necessary, the full text was consulted. Prospective and retrospective documents were included. RESULTS: A total of 39 documents were included for their relevance and interest. Few clinical trials were found. The UR incidence on the results of the studies analyzed ranged from 0.15-0.98% in spontaneous labor; 0.3-1.5% in stimulation and induction with oxytocin, and 0.68-2.3% in prostaglandin inductions. CONCLUSIONS: The success of vaginal birth after cesarean is important and improves when conditions are optimal. However it is not without risks, the main one being UR. Induction of labor with oxytocin and/or prostaglandins appears as the main risk factor, while the spontaneous onset of labor and a prior vaginal birth are protective factors.

Birth plan compliance and its relation to maternal and neonatal outcomes / O cumprimento do plano de parto e sua relação com os resultados maternos e neonatais / El cumplimiento del plan de parto y su relación con los resultados maternos y neonatales

ABSTRACT Objective: to know the degree of fulfillment of the requests that women reflect in their birth plans and to determine their influence on the main obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Method: retrospective, descriptive and analytical study with 178 women with birth plans in third-level hospital. Inclusion criteria: low risk gestation, cephalic presentation, single childbirth, delivered at term. Scheduled and urgent cesareans without labor were excluded. A descriptive and inferential analysis of the variables was performed. Results: the birth plan was mostly fulfilled in only 37% of the women. The group of women whose compliance was low (less than or equal to 50%) had a cesarean section rate of 18.8% and their children had worse outcomes in the Apgar test and umbilical cord pH; while in women with high compliance (75% or more), the percentage of cesareans fell to 6.1% and their children had better outcomes. Conclusion: birth plans have a low degree of compliance. The higher the compliance, the better is the maternal and neonatal outcomes. The birth plan can be an effective tool to achieve better outcomes for the mother and her child. Measures are needed to improve its compliance.

RESUMO Objetivo: conhecer o grau de cumprimento das solicitações que as mulheres registram nos seus planos de parto e determinar sua influência nos principais resultados obstétricos e neonatais. Método: estudo retrospectivo, descritivo e analítico com 178 mulheres com plano de parto em hospital de terceiro nível. Critérios de inclusão: gestação de baixo risco, apresentação cefálica, parto único a termo. Cesarianas agendadas e urgentes sem trabalho de parto foram excluídas. Foi realizada análise descritiva e inferencial das variáveis. Resultados: o plano de parto foi majoritariamente cumprido em apenas 37% das mulheres. O grupo de mulheres cujo cumprimento foi baixo (menor ou igual a 50%) teve percentagem de cesarianas de 18,8% e seus filhos tiveram resultados piores no teste de Apgar e pH do cordão, enquanto que em mulheres com alto cumprimento (75% ou mais), a porcentagem de cesáreas caiu para 6,1% e seus filhos apresentaram melhores resultados. Conclusão: o plano de parto tem um baixo grau de cumprimento. Quanto maior o cumprimento, melhores são os resultados maternos e neonatais. O plano de parto pode ser uma ferramenta eficaz para alcançar melhores resultados para a mãe e seu filho. São necessárias medidas para melhorar seu grau de cumprimento.

RESUMEN Objetivo: conocer el grado de cumplimiento de las solicitudes que las mujeres reflejan en sus planes de parto y determinar su influencia en los principales resultados obstétricos y neonatales. Método: estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo y analítico con 178 mujeres con plan de parto en hospitales de tercer nivel. Criterios de inclusión: gestación bajo riesgo, presentación cefálica, parto único a término. Se excluyeron cesáreas programadas y urgentes sin trabajo de parto. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo e inferencial de las variables. Resultados: el plan de parto se cumplió mayoritariamente solo en el 37% de las mujeres. El grupo de mujeres donde el cumplimiento fue bajo (menor o igual al 50%) tuvo un porcentaje de cesáreas del 18,8% y sus hijos tuvieron peores resultados en test de Apgar y pH de cordón; mientras que en mujeres con cumplimiento alto (75% o mayor), el porcentaje de cesáreas cayó al 6,1% y sus hijos obtuvieron mejores resultados. Conclusión: el plan de parto tiene un grado de cumplimiento bajo. A mayor cumplimiento mejores son los resultados maternos y neonatales. Puede constituir una herramienta eficaz en la consecución de mejores resultados en la madre y su hijo. Son necesarias medidas que mejoren su grado de cumplimiento.

Labor stimulation with oxytocin: effects on obstetrical and neonatal outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the effects of labor stimulation with oxytocin on maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHOD: descriptive and analytical study with 338 women who gave birth at a tertiary hospital. Obstetric and neonatal variables were measured and compared in women submitted and non-submitted to stimulation with oxytocin. Statistics were performed using Chi-square test, Fisher exact test, Student t-test; and crude Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval were calculated. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: stimulation with oxytocin increases the rates of cesarean sections, epidural anesthesia and intrapartum maternal fever in primiparous and multiparous women. It has also been associated with low pH values of umbilical cord blood and with a shorter duration of the first stage of labor in primiparous women. However, it did not affect the rates of 3rd and 4th degree perineal lacerations, episiotomies, advanced neonatal resuscitation, 5-minute Apgar scores and meconium. CONCLUSION: stimulation with oxytocin should not be used systematically, but only in specific cases. These findings provide further evidence to health professionals and midwives on the use of oxytocin during labor. Under normal conditions, women should be informed of the possible effects of labor stimulation with oxytocin.

Labor stimulation with oxytocin: effects on obstetrical and neonatal outcomes / Estimulação do parto com oxitocina: efeitos nos resultados obstétricos e neonatais / Estimulación del parto con oxitocina: efectos en los resultados obstétricos y neonatales

Abstract Objective: to evaluate the effects of labor stimulation with oxytocin on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Method: descriptive and analytical study with 338 women who gave birth at a tertiary hospital. Obstetric and neonatal variables were measured and compared in women submitted and non-submitted to stimulation with oxytocin. Statistics were performed using Chi-square test, Fisher exact test, Student t-test; and crude Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval were calculated. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: stimulation with oxytocin increases the rates of cesarean sections, epidural anesthesia and intrapartum maternal fever in primiparous and multiparous women. It has also been associated with low pH values of umbilical cord blood and with a shorter duration of the first stage of labor in primiparous women. However, it did not affect the rates of 3rd and 4th degree perineal lacerations, episiotomies, advanced neonatal resuscitation, 5-minute Apgar scores and meconium. Conclusion: stimulation with oxytocin should not be used systematically, but only in specific cases. These findings provide further evidence to health professionals and midwives on the use of oxytocin during labor. Under normal conditions, women should be informed of the possible effects of labor stimulation with oxytocin.

Resumo Objetivo: avaliar os efeitos da estimulação do parto com oxitocina nos resultados maternos e neonatais. Método: estudo descritivo e analítico, com 338 mulheres que deram à luz em um hospital de nível terciário. Variáveis obstétricas e neonatais foram medidas e comparadas em mulheres com e sem estimulação com oxitocina. Estatísticas foram feitas utilizando-se o teste Qui-quadrado, teste exato de Fisher e o teste t-Student; e as Odds Ratio brutas com intervalo de confiança de 95% foram calculadas. Um valor de p < 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados: a estimulação com oxitocina aumentou as taxas de cesarianas, anestesia peridural, febre materna intraparto em primíparas e multíparas. Ela também foi associada com baixos valores de pH do cordão umbilical e com uma menor duração da primeira fase do parto em primíparas. No entanto, ela não afetou as taxas de laceração perineal de terceiro e quarto graus, a episiotomia, a reanimação neonatal avançada, o teste de Apgar de 5 minutos e o mecônio. Conclusão: a estimulação com oxitocina não deveria ser utilizada de maneira sistemática, mas apenas em casos muito específicos. Estes resultados fornecem evidências adicionais aos profissionais de saúde e às parteiras sobre o uso de oxitocina durante o parto. Em condições normais, as mulheres deveriam ser informadas sobre os possíveis efeitos da estimulação com oxitocina.

Resumen Objetivo: valorar los efectos de la estimulación del parto con oxitocina en los resultados maternos y neonatales. Método: estudio descriptivo y analítico con 338 mujeres que parieron en un hospital de tercer nivel. Variables obstétricas y neonatales fueron medidas y comparadas en mujeres con y sin estimulación con oxitocina. Estadísticos Chi-cuadrado, test exacto de Fisher, test t-Student, Odd Ratio cruda y un intervalo de confianza del 95% fueron calculados. Un valor p < 0,05 se consideró estadísticamente significativo. Resultados: la estimulación con oxitocina incrementó el ratio de cesáreas, analgesia epidural, fiebre materna intraparto en primíparas y multíparas; también se relacionó con bajos valores de pH de cordón umbilical, y menor duración de la primera fase del parto en primíparas. Sin embargo no afectó la tasa de desgarros de 3-4 grado, episiotomías, reanimación neonatal avanzada, test de Apgar a los 5 minutos o meconio. Conclusión: la estimulación con oxitocina no debería emplearse de forma sistemática, sino solo en casos muy indicados. Estos hallazgos proporcionan mayor evidencia a los profesionales y matronas a cerca del uso de oxitocina durante el parto. En condiciones normales, las mujeres deberían estar informadas de los posibles efectos de la estimulación con oxitocina.