BACKGROUND We examined the obstetric outcomes of singleton vaginal deliveries in women with cerclage at our institute to confirm the risk of intrapartum cervical lacerations in vaginal deliveries of women with cerclage. METHODS Data on all Japanese singleton vaginal deliveries at ≥ 34 weeks' gestation managed at the Japanese Red Cross Katsushika Maternity Hospital between 2008 and 2014 were c...

Neonatal group B streptococcal infection is the primary cause of neonatal morbidity related to infection. It can often be prevented by identifying and treating pregnant women who carry group B streptococci or who are at highest risk of transmitting the bacteria to newborns. Increasing evidence and expert opinion support intrapartum treatment of women at relatively high risk of delivering an inf...

BACKGROUND We determined the association between combined spinal-epidural (CSE) anaesthesia and an increase in maternal intrapartum temperature and intrapartum fever. METHODS A randomized, open clinical trial was performed with 70 pregnant women, 35 receiving CSE and 35 receiving only non-pharmacological methods of pain relief during delivery. Association between CSE and changes in the patien...

ST waveform analysis of fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) for intrapartum surveillance (STAN) is a newly introduced method for fetal surveillance. The purpose of this commentary is to assist in the proper use of fetal ECG in combination with cardiotocography (CTG) during labour. Guidelines and recommendations concerning CTG and ST waveform interpretation and classification are stated that were agre...

BACKGROUND Health care activities are influenced by information communication between women during pregnancy, birth and motherhood and skilled birth attendants (SBAs) and further, between the health care workers during the continuum of care. Therefore, effective information communication processes (ICP) within and between health care facilities are a requirement for appropriate management of pa...

BACKGROUND Current prevention of infection due to group B Streptococcus (GBS) involves giving intrapartum antibiotics to women on the basis of either antenatal culture colonization status or presence of risk factors. METHODS We prospectively compared the performance characteristics of a rapid molecular diagnostic test (IDI-Strep B; Infectio Diagnostic) with culture for intrapartum GBS detecti...

OBJECTIVE To apply the World Health Organization (WHO) Application of the International Classification of Diseases, tenth revision (ICD-10) to deaths during the perinatal period: ICD-Perinatal Mortality (ICD-PM) to existing perinatal death databases. DESIGN Retrospective application of ICD-PM. SETTING South Africa, UK. POPULATION Perinatal death databases. METHODS Deaths were grouped ac...

OBJECTIVE To examine antenatal screening as a predictor of intrapartum shedding of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and to determine its usefulness in guiding the appropriate route of delivery for patients with recurrent HSV in pregnancy. METHODS A population of 198 pregnant women with a history of recurrent genital HSV were cultured in the last weeks of their pregnancy by specially-trained personn...

Purpose: We propose that using remifentanil in ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedures reduces the need for maternal exposure to general anesthesia. Using remifentanil along with spinal anesthesia eliminates the fetal and maternal risks associated with inhalational general anesthesia, allows the mother to be awake, and obviates the need for and costs associated with general anesthesia ...

Background. A prenatally diagnosed fetal anomaly that could compromise the fetal airway at delivery can be managed safely with the ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure. Case. A 26-year-old healthy primigravida was diagnosed during her midtrimester anatomic ultrasound survey with a fetal oropharyngeal cystic structure located at the base of the tongue. The neonatal airway was successf...