BACKGROUND In China, no multicenter double-blinded prospective randomized controlled study on labor induction has been conducted till now. This study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravaginal accurate 25-μg misoprostol tablets for cervical ripening and labor induction in term pregnancy in nulliparous women. METHODS This was a double-blinded, prospective randomized controlled stud...

OBJECTIVE Prostaglandins (PGs) are key regulators of cervical dilatation and membrane breakdown at the onset of labor. PG synthase and receptor expression has been previously documented in uterine tissues; however, mechanisms governing the changes occurring in the cervix and amnion are less well established. The aim of the current study was to determine the level of expression of PG synthetic e...

Professional maternity care organizations within the United States are aligned in the goal to prevent the first cesarean birth in nulliparous women with a term, singleton, vertex fetus. Currently, one in 3 women are at risk for having a cesarean birth. The most common reason for cesarean in the United States is labor dystocia. The evidence supports delaying admission to the birthing unit until ...

Background: Continuous epidural infusion (CEI) can provide analgesia during labor. The dural puncture (DPE) technique is used to accelerate the onset of neuraxia anesthesia. primary objective this study was compare percentage patients that received adequate labor following an injection 0.08% ropivacaine via DPE and CEI techniques combined with PIEB mode maintenance.

BACKGROUND Patient characteristics may contribute to the progress and pain of labor. Quantitative evaluation of the effects of patient characteristics requires robust mathematical models of labor progress and labor pain. METHODS The authors retrospectively studied 100 sequential deliveries from each of five self-reported ethnic groups (Asian, Black, Hispanic, Other, and White). Demographic va...