Labor course and delivery in epidural analgesia: a case-control study

Labor progression of women attempting vaginal birth after previous cesarean delivery with or without epidural analgesia

PURPOSE

Normal labor curves have not been assessed for women undergoing a trial of labor after cesarean delivery (TOLAC). This study examined labor patterns during TOLAC in relation to epidural analgesia use.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of deliveries of women undergoing TOLAC at a single, academic, tertiary medical center. Length of first, second and third stages of labor was compared between 424 women undergoing TOLAC in the current labor with no previous vaginal delivery (VD) and 357 women with at least one previous VD and current TOLAC.

RESULTS

Women in the TOLAC only group had significantly longer labors compared to women in the previous VD and TOLAC group. In both groups, women who underwent epidural analgesia had longer first and second stages of labor. In the TOLAC only group, more women who had epidural analgesia tended to deliver vaginally as compared to those who did not (P = 0.09). For women who delivered vaginally, the 95th percentile for the second stage duration with epidural was 3.40 h in the TOLAC only group and 2.3 h in the previous VD and TOLAC group. The 95th percentile for the second stage duration without epidural was 1.4 h in the TOLAC only group and 0.9 h in the previous VD and TOLAC group.

CONCLUSIONS

Operative intervention (instrumental delivery/cesarean delivery (CD)) might be considered for women attempting TOLAC after a 2-h duration of second stage without epidural and 3-h duration with epidural, with an hour less for women who also had previous VD.

Epidural Analgesia and Neonatal Morbidity: A Retrospective Cohort Study

(1) Background: Epidural analgesia (EA), at the present time, is one of the most effective methods to reduce labor pain. In recent years its use has increased, being used between 20–70% of all deliveries; (2) Methods: Historical cohort on a total of 2947 deliveries during the years 2012–2016 at the “Mancha-Centro Hospital” of Alcázar de San Juan. The main outcome variables were four neonatal morbidity (NM) criteria: umbilical artery pH of <7.10, Apgar score at 5 min < 7, need for advanced resuscitation and composite morbidity. We used the multivariate analysis to control confounding bias. (3) Results: No statistical relationship between EA and the second stage of labor duration with none of the four criteria of NM used (p > 0.005). However, the type of delivery was associated with three criteria (pH, resuscitation, and composite morbidity). The instrumental delivery presented an OR of pH < 7.10 of 2.68 95% CI [1.15, 6.27], an OR of advanced resuscitation of 2.44 95% CI [1.17, 5.08] and OR of composite morbidity of 2.86 95% CI [1.59, 5.12]; (4) Conclusions: The EA and the second stage of labor duration are not related to the NM. While the instrumental delivery doubles the risk of NM compared to the normal vaginal delivery.

The degree of labor pain at the time of epidural analgesia in nulliparous women influences the obstetric outcome

Background

The increased pain at the latent phase can be associated with dysfunctional labor as well as increases in cesarean delivery frequency. We aimed to research the effect of the degree of pain at the time of epidural analgesia on the entire labor process including the mode of delivery.

Methods

We performed epidural analgesia to 102 nulliparous women on patients' request. We divided the group into three based on NRS (numeric rating scale) at the moment of epidural analgesia; mild pain, NRS 1-4; moderate pain, NRS 5-7; severe pain, NRS 8-10. The primary outcome was the mode of delivery (normal labor or cesarean delivery).

Results

There were significant differences in the mode of delivery among groups. Patients with severe labor pain had a significantly higher cesarean delivery compared to patients with moderate labor pain (P = 0.006). The duration of the first and second stage of labor, fetal heart rate, use of oxytocin and premature rupture of membranes had no differences in the three groups.

Conclusions

Our research showed that the degree of pain at the time of epidural analgesia request might influence the rate of cesarean delivery. Further research would be necessary for clarifying the mechanism that the augmentation of pain affects the mode of delivery.

Differential effects of epidural analgesia on modes of delivery and perinatal outcomes between nulliparous and multiparous women: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Epidural analgesia is considered one of the most effective methods for pain relief during labor. However, it is not clear whether similar effects of epidural analgesia on the progression of labor, modes of delivery, and perinatal outcomes exist between nulliparous and multiparous women.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze all deliveries after 37 weeks of gestation, with the exclusion of pregnancies complicated by multiple gestations and fetal anomalies and deliveries without trials of labor; these criteria produced a study population of n=16,852. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to control for confounders. In total, 7260 of 10,175 (71.4%) nulliparous and 2987 of 6677 (44.7%) multiparous parturients were administered epidural analgesia. The independent factors for intrapartum epidural analgesia included a low prepregnancy body mass index, genetic amniocentesis, group B streptococcal colonization of the genito-rectal tract, and augmentation and induction of labor. In the nulliparous women, epidural analgesia was a significant risk factor for operative vaginal delivery (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.80-2.54); however, it was a protective factor against Caesarean delivery (adjusted OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.55-0.69). Epidural analgesia remained a significant risk factor for operative vaginal delivery (adjusted OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.58-2.97) but not for Caesarean delivery (adjusted OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.77-1.55) in the multiparous women. Furthermore, the women who were administered epidural analgesia during the trials of labor had similar rates of adverse perinatal outcomes compared with the women who were not administered epidural analgesia, except that a higher rate of 1-minute Apgar scores less than 7 was noted in the nulliparous women who were administered epidural analgesia.

Conclusions/Significance

Intrapartum epidural analgesia has differential effects on the modes of delivery between nulliparous and multiparous women, and it is not associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.

Effects of maternal epidural analgesia on the neonate--a prospective cohort study

Background

Epidural analgesia is one of the most popular modes of analgesia for child birth. There are controversies regarding adverse effects and safety of epidural analgesia. This study was conducted to study the immediate effects of the maternal epidural analgesia on the neonate during early neonatal phase.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of 100 neonates born to mothers administered epidural analgesia were compared with 100 neonates born to mothers not administered epidural analgesia in terms of passage of urine, initiation of breast feeding, birth asphyxia and incidence of instrumentation.

Results

There was significant difference among the two groups in the passage of urine (P value 0.002) and incidence of instrumentation (P value 0.010) but there was no significant difference in regards to initiation of breast feeding and birth asphyxia.

Conclusions

Epidural analgesia does not have any effect on the newborns in regards to breast feeding and birth asphyxia but did have effects like delayed passage of urine and increased incidence of instrumentation.

Mode of delivery after epidural analgesia in a cohort of low-risk nulliparas

BACKGROUND

  Although epidural analgesia is widespread and very effective for alleviating labor pain, its use is still controversial, as the literature is inconsistent about the risk of adverse birth outcome after administration of epidural analgesia. The aim of this study was to explore associations between epidural analgesia and mode of delivery.

METHODS

  Data were obtained from a prospective cohort from nine Danish labor wards and comprised 2,721 term nulliparous women with spontaneous onset of labor and a singleton fetus in cephalic presentation. Information about epidural analgesia, mode of delivery, and birth complications was obtained by the staff attending labor. Additional information was provided from self-administered questionnaires in gestational week 37. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the association between epidural analgesia and birth outcomes. Results are presented as crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR [95% CI]).

RESULTS

  Of the total cohort, 21.6 percent required epidural analgesia, 8.7 percent had emergency cesarean section, and 14.9 percent had vacuum extraction. Women with epidural analgesia had a higher risk of emergency cesarean section (adjusted OR: 5.8; 95% CI: 4.1-8.1), and vacuum extraction (adjusted OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3-2.2). In a subgroup of the cohort with a very low overall risk of cesarean section, 3.4 percent had emergency cesarean section and an increased risk of emergency cesarean section was also found in this group (adjusted OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.5-8.2).

CONCLUSIONS

  In nulliparous women of a very low-risk population, use of epidural analgesia for labor pain was associated with higher risks of emergency cesarean section and vacuum extraction.

The duration of labor in adolescents

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To determine the lengths of the first and second stages of labor in a group of Canadian adolescents; to compare this timeline to the estimates from a general population, and to a heterogeneous group of adolescents from a previous study.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

This study included women 19 years old and under at the time of delivery, having had spontaneous labor and a term singleton cephalic vaginal delivery between 2000 and 2005.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome is the length of the first and second stages of labor. Impact of epidural use will be determined.

RESULTS

In adolescents undergoing spontaneous labor at term (n = 177), the median duration of the first stage was 6.8 and 3.2 hours for nulliparous and multiparous teens respectively, compared to 10.0 and 5.9 hours in a mostly adult population. The duration of the second stage, in term spontaneous vaginal deliveries, was 54 minutes for nulliparous and 10 minutes for multiparous adolescents, similar to the teens in Greenberg's 2007 study. Comparatively, median lengths of second stage for the general population were 92 minutes and 20 minutes for nulliparous and multiparous women respectively. Epidural analgesia had a significant influence on lengthening the second stage in adolescents, however second stages in teens were still shorter, when controlling for regional analgesia, than in a general population.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents do have shorter both first and second stages when compared to a general group. These differences demonstrate the importance of determining a distinct timeline for evaluating the course of labor in teens.

The Effects of Childbirth Self‐Efficacy and Anxiety During Pregnancy on Prehospitalization Labor

OBJECTIVE

To describe levels of anxiety and self-efficacy for childbirth in nulliparous women during the late third trimester and to identify relationships among those variables, prehospitalization labor pain, management strategies, and hospital admission status.

DESIGN

A longitudinal, descriptive study.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-five English-speaking nulliparous women, 18 to 40 years of age, more than or equal to 38 week's gestation, with uncomplicated pregnancies. All participants had a significant other (husband or partner) and attended childbirth education programs.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory, Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire, Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory, McGill Pain Questionnaire-Short Form, postpartum interviews, and medical records review.

RESULTS

Prenatal anxiety was significantly related to self-efficacy for childbirth in late pregnancy, labor pain, number of hours at home in labor, and admitting cervical dilation. The number of management strategies used was related to pain scores during labor before hospital admission. Women who spent longer periods of time at home in labor arrived at the hospital with a greater cervical dilation.

CONCLUSIONS

Antenatal characteristics influence intrapartal outcomes in nulliparas. Labor environment, at home and in the hospital, is recognized as an important component of the first childbirth experience.

Issues of consent for regional analgesia in labour: a survey of obstetric anaesthetists

Anaesthetists are legally obliged to obtain consent and inform patients of material risks prior to administering regional analgesia in labour. We surveyed consultant members of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists with a special interest in obstetric anaesthesia, in order to identify and compare which risks of regional analgesia they report discussing with women prior to and during labour. We also asked about obstetric anaesthetists' beliefs about informed consent, the type of consent obtained and its documentation. Of 542 questionnaires distributed, 291 responses (54%) were suitable for analysis. The five most commonly discussed risks were post dural puncture headache, block failure, permanent neurological injury, temporary leg weakness and hypotension. Obstetric anaesthetists reported discussing a mean of 8.0 (SD 3.8) and 10 (SD 3.8) risks in the labour and antenatal settings respectively. Nearly 20% of respondents did not rank post dural puncture headache among their top five most important risks for discussion. Seventy percent of respondents indicated that they believe active labour inhibits a woman's ability to give 'fully informed consent'. Over 80% of respondents obtain verbal consent and 57 (20%) have no record of the consent or its discussion. Obstetric anaesthetists reported making a considerable effort to inform patients of risks prior to the provision of regional analgesia in labour. Verbal consent may be appropriate for labouring women, using standardized forms that serve as a reminder of the risks, and a record of the discussion. Consensus is required as to what are the levels of risk from regional analgesia in labour.