BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
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Spectral analysis of heart-rate variability is used to monitor autonomic nervous system fluctuations. The low-frequency component is associated with sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation and the high-frequency component is associated with parasympathetic modulation. The objective was to study whether changes in low-frequency or high-frequency power of heart-rate variability occur in case of fetal distress. ⋯ The autonomic nervous system of human fetuses at term responds adequately to severe stress during labour. Normalised low and high frequency power of heart-rate variability might be able to discriminate between normal and abnormal fetal condition.
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Multicenter Study
Cardiac arrest in pregnancy: increasing use of perimortem caesarean section due to emergency skills training?
Management of cardiac arrest in pregnancy is recommended to include perimortem caesarean section (PMCS) in the Managing Obstetric Emergencies and Trauma (MOET) course. In this study, we aimed to assess maternal and neonatal outcome of all cases of PMCS in the Netherlands performed in the last 15 years, and to test the hypothesis that PMCS was used more often since the introduction of the MOET-course in 2004. ⋯ Since the introduction of the MOET course, the use of PMCS has increased. Outcome, however, was still poor. An important factor to improve outcome is more timely application of this potentially life-saving procedure.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Effects of natural childbirth preparation versus standard antenatal education on epidural rates, experience of childbirth and parental stress in mothers and fathers: a randomised controlled multicentre trial.
To examine the effects of antenatal education focussing on natural childbirth preparation with psychoprophylactic training versus standard antenatal education on the use of epidural analgesia, experience of childbirth and parental stress in first-time mothers and fathers. ⋯ Natural childbirth preparation including training in breathing and relaxation did not decrease the use of epidural analgesia during labour, nor did it improve the birth experience or affect parental stress in early parenthood in nulliparous women and men, compared with a standard form of antenatal education.
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Multicenter Study
Priorities in emergency obstetric care in Bolivia--maternal mortality and near-miss morbidity in metropolitan La Paz.
To document the frequency and causes of maternal mortality and severe (near-miss) morbidity in metropolitan La Paz, Bolivia. ⋯ Pre-hospital barriers remain to be of great importance in a setting of this type, where there is wide availability of free maternal health care. Such barriers, together with haemorrhage in early pregnancy, pre-eclampsia detection and referral patterns, should be priority areas for future research and interventions to improve maternal health. Near-miss upon arrival and near-miss after arrival at hospital should be analysed separately as that provides additional information about factors that contribute to maternal ill-health.
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Multicenter Study
Maternal mortality and serious maternal morbidity in Jehovah's witnesses in The Netherlands.
To determine the risk of maternal mortality and serious maternal morbidity because of major obstetric haemorrhage in Jehovah's witnesses in The Netherlands. ⋯ Women who are Jehovah's witnesses are at a six times increased risk for maternal death, at a 130 times increased risk for maternal death because of major obstetric haemorrhage and at a 3.1 times increased risk for serious maternal morbidity because of obstetric haemorrhage, compared to the general Dutch population.