BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Acupuncture treatment during labour--a randomised controlled trial.
To investigate acupuncture treatment during labour with regard to pain intensity, degree of relaxation and outcome of the delivery. ⋯ The results suggest that acupuncture could be a good alternative or complement to those parturients who seek an alternative to pharmacological analgesia in childbirth. Further trials with a larger number of patients are required to clarify if the main effect of acupuncture during labour is analgesic or relaxing.
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Multicenter Study
Combined ultrasound and biochemical screening for Down's syndrome in the first trimester: a Scottish multicentre study.
To evaluate the use of ultrasound measurements of fetal nuchal translucency (NT) obtained in a routine antenatal clinic setting in combination with appropriate biochemical markers as a first trimester screening test for Down's Syndrome. ⋯ NT in combination with appropriate serum markers has the potential to detect over 80% of Down's Syndrome fetuses in early pregnancy. However, NT measurement is highly operator-dependent. It requires training, external quality control and adequate time to allow accurate measurement, otherwise suboptimal performance will result.
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Comparative Study
What are the implications for the next delivery in primigravidae who have an elective caesarean section for breech presentation?
To determine the mode of the next delivery for primigravid women who have an elective caesarean section for breech presentation. ⋯ Women who have an elective caesarean section for a breech presentation in their first pregnancy have about a 1 in 10 chance of having an elective caesarean section for a breech presentation in their second pregnancy. Overall, the incidence of repeat caesarean section for their second baby was 43.8%, and of those allowed to labour, 84% achieved a vaginal delivery. These results compared favourably with women who had an elective caesarean section with a cephalic presentation in their first pregnancy. This information is important in advising primigravid women with a breech presentation about longer term implications of elective caesarean section. It also allows healthcare managers to anticipate the resource implications of any changes in clinical practice for women with a breech presentation in their first pregnancy.
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To test the hypothesis that suboptimal factors in perinatal care services resulting in perinatal deaths were more common among immigrant mothers from the Horn of Africa, when compared with Swedish mothers. ⋯ Suboptimal factors in perinatal care likely to result in perinatal death were significantly more common among east African than native Swedish mothers, affording insight into socio-cultural differences in pregnancy strategies, but also the suboptimal performance of certain health care routines in the Swedish perinatal care system.
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To determine how long it takes from the decision to achieve delivery by non-elective caesarean section (DDI), the influences on this interval, and the impact on neonatal condition at birth. ⋯ Fewer than 40% intrapartum deliveries by caesarean section for fetal distress were achieved within 30 minutes of the decision, despite that being the unit standard. There was, however, no evidence to indicate that overall an interval up to 120 minutes was detrimental to the neonate unless the delivery was a 'crash' caesarean section. These data thus do not provide evidence to sustain the recommendation of a standard of 30 minutes for intrapartum delivery by caesarean section.