British medical journal
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British medical journal · Sep 1971
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialComparative effect of pethidine, trichloroethylene, and Entonox on fetal and neonatal acid-base and PO2.
The second stage of labour is associated with relative fetal hypoxia and progressive metabolic acidosis. Maternal analgesia can increase the danger, especially for the high-risk fetus. ⋯ Capillary samples were also taken 45 to 60 minutes after birth in 88 of the babies to estimate the rate of neonatal recovery. Entonox proved safer than trichloroethylene, and babies treated with it maintained their Po(2) before birth, had better Apgar scores at birth, and one hour later were significantly less acidotic and much better oxygenated.
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British medical journal · Mar 1970
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialClinical trials of different concentrations of oxygen and nitrous oxide for obstetric analgesia. Report to the Medical Research Council of the Committee on Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen Analgesia in Midwifery.
Trials have been organized by a Medical Research Council committee to assess the effectiveness and safety for analgesia in labour of oxygen and nitrous oxide mixtures in different proportions. In a preliminary trial concentrations of 50% and 60% v/v nitrous oxide were compared, but, as the replies of 409 mothers revealed little difference between the two, the results of administering either 50% or 70% nitrous oxide to 778 mothers were then compared. The data relating to normal labour, obtained on 501 of the mothers in this main trial, showed that the relief of pain given was much the same. ⋯ The proportion of mothers with normal deliveries who lost consciousness, though very small, was significantly higher with 70% nitrous oxide than with the lower concentration. Ninety-two per cent. of mothers found the gas and oxygen machine helpful, and midwives reported complete or good co-operation by 77% of those using it. It is concluded that the 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide mixture can safely be used by unsupervised midwives.
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British medical journal · Jan 1970
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialReduction of incidence of prematurity by folic acid supplementation in pregnancy.
Folic acid administered to pregnant Bantu, whose diet is low in folate, was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of prematurity. No such effect could be demonstrated in White patients subsisting on an average Western diet. This suggests that folate deficiency may contribute to the "pregnancy wastage" in populations whose dietary folate intake is low, and is a further indication for folic acid supplementation during pregnancy in these groups.