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Objective Little is known about prevalence, risk factors, rate of treatment, or adverse outcomes associated with intrapartum hypertension. Thus, our objective was to describe these findings. Study Design This was a retrospective study of laboring term gestations with no history of hypertensive disorders. Intrapartum blood pressures were reviewed, and women were subdivided based on blood pressures: normal ( Results A total of 724 women were studied during 4 months: 248 (34%) had mild and 69 (10%) had severe hypertension. Severe hypertensives were more likely to be nulliparous, obese, or have received an epidural or oxytocin. There were no cases of eclampsia, stroke, or pulmonary edema in severe hypertensives (95% confidence interval, 0–5). Despite severely elevated pressures, only 4/69 (6%) patients received intravenous antihypertensive therapy, and 3 (4%) required medications at discharge. Conclusion One in 3 women exhibits mild hypertension and 1 in 10 develop severe hypertension in labor. Only 6% of patients received treatment for severe blood pressures. This study highlights lack of treatment of hypertension in labor and further investigation into causes and outcomes of intrapartum elevations of blood pressures.

Objective To evaluate the degree of adherence to the new the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists/Society for Maternal–Fetal Medicine guidelines in labor arrest management. Study Design A retrospective study of term, live, singleton deliveries with intrapartum primary cesarean delivery solely for failed induction of labor or labor arrest. Adherence was defined according to the Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery 2014 criteria. We evaluated adherence and compared maternal and perinatal outcomes, delivery time frame, and billing provider. Multivariable Poisson regression models with robust error variance were used to calculate adjusted relative risk (aRR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Two-hundred six deliveries met the inclusion criteria; 73% were deemed not adherent to the guidelines. The majority of cases were under the care of nonacademic private practice OB/GYN physicians. The adherence rate was higher in the active phase of labor (45%) than in second stage (17%) and latent phase (14%). There were no differences in perinatal outcomes between the two groups. The adherence to guidelines was higher among academic OB/GYN physicians (aRR, 2.24, 95% CI, 1.49–3.36) and during the weekday–night shift (aRR, 1.81, 95% CI, 1.10–2.98). Conclusion Despite recent guidelines aimed to reduce the primary cesarean delivery rate, most cesarean deliveries performed for labor arrest disorders were not adherent to the guidelines.

Background Although supplemental oxygen (SO2) is routinely administered to laboring gravidas, benefits and harms are not well studied. Objective This article compares strategies of liberal versus indicated SO2 therapy during labor on cesarean delivery (CD) rate and neonatal outcomes. Study Design A controlled, before-and-after trial of laboring women with term, singleton pregnancies. During an initial 8-week period, maternal SO2 was administered at the discretion of the provider followed by an 8-week period where SO2 was to be given only for protocol indications. Results Our study included 844 women. There was no difference in number of women receiving SO2 (53% liberal vs. 50% indicated; p = 0.33). For those receiving SO2, there was no difference in SO2 duration (median, 89 minutes [interquartile range, 42–172] vs. 87 minutes [36–152]; p = 0.42). There were no differences in overall CD rate (20% vs. 17%; p = 0.70), CD for nonreassuring fetal status, or use of intrauterine resuscitative measures. There were more 5-minute APGAR Conclusion Approximately half of women receive SO2 intrapartum regardless of a strategy of liberal or indicated oxygen use. There were no clinically significant differences in outcomes between strategies.

Objective The objective was to ascertain interobserver variability for assessment of Angles of fetal head manipulation, Traction exerted on the fetal head, and Time interval from the emergence of the head to the feet (ATT) at vaginal delivery. Materials and Methods Singleton pregnancies of ≥36 weeks with vaginal delivery were included. Visual analogs were created to assess angles and traction, and mobile phone stopwatch was used to assess the time interval. The intraclass coefficient (ICC) was calculated to determine interobserver variability. Results Thirty-seven deliveries were analyzed. For the two observers, the median angle for downward manipulation was –5° vs –20° (interquartile range [IQR], –5 to –5 vs –30 to –10), ICC of 0.09 (poor agreement; 95% confidence interval [CI] –0.09, 0.32), and that for upward manipulation was 10° vs 20° (IQR, 10–15 vs 10–30), ICC of 0.25 (poor agreement; 95% CI –0.05, 0.52). ICC for lateral manipulation could not be calculated as it was not noted in 98% of deliveries. Mean traction was 2.5 versus 5.0, ICC of 0.36 (poor agreement; 95% CI –0.09, 0.72). The mean time intervals were 14.9 versus 14.0 seconds, ICC of 0.94 (excellent agreement, 95% CI 0.88–0.97). Conclusion With exception of time interval, interobserver agreement was poor in estimation of fetal head manipulation and traction.

Objective The factors associated with persistent neonatal brachial plexus palsy (PNBPP) are unknown. Our objectives are to compare PNBPP at 1 and 2 years in children delivered via vaginal delivery (VD) versus cesarean delivery (CD) and in children delivered via VD with or without reported shoulder dystocia (SD). Study Design Retrospective cohort of children diagnosed with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP). Maternally reported delivery history and presence of SD were recorded with Student t -test, chi-square test, and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) calculated for comparisons. Results Of 387 cases of NBPP, 8% (30) delivered via CD. Rates of PNBPP were higher in the VD group at 1 and 2 years (60% of CD and 85% of VD; OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.11–0.62 at 1 year; 33% of CD and 73% of VD; OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.05–0.39 at 2 years). There was no difference in PNBPP in women with VD with or without maternally reported SD (87 vs. 85%, p = 0.68 at 1 year; 64 vs. 61%, p = 0.61 at 2 years). Conclusion PNBPP is possible with CD, and there is no difference in PNBPP in VD with or without maternally reported SD. A prospective study is warranted to ascertain associative factors.

Many protocols diagnose gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) solely on a 1-hour glucose challenge test (GCT) ≥ 200 mg/dL. However, pregnancy outcomes in these women compared with women diagnosed with a 3-hour glucose tolerance test (GTT) has not been adequately evaluated. We hypothesize that a 1-hour GCT ≥ 200 mg/dL is associated with worse pregnancy outcomes as compared with a GCT 135 to 199 mg/dL with positive GTT.A retrospective cohort of singleton pregnancies complicated by GDM. Maternal outcomes included A2DM, preeclampsia, primary cesarean, and failed trial of labor after cesarean. Perinatal outcomes were large/small for gestational age, shoulder dystocia, and birth injury. Groups were compared with t-test and chi-square test, and logistic regression to adjust for confounders.A total of 602 women diagnosed with GDM by 1-hour GCT 135 to 199 mg/dL and confirmatory 3-hour GTT (200 group) and 225 women diagnosed with 1-hour GCT ≥ 200 alone (≥ 200) were included. The ≥ 200 group had a higher incidence of preeclampsia (16.4 vs. 10.6%) and shoulder dystocia (3.1 vs. 1.0%). Adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were 1.80 (1.10-2.94) and 5.10 (1.25-20.76), respectively.Preeclampsia and shoulder dystocia are more frequent in women with GCT ≥ 200 mg/dL than those with a positive GTT following a GCT of 135 to 199 mg/dL.

Objective Our objective was to compare persistence of neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) at 1 and 2 years in children of nulliparous versus parous women. Study Design We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children diagnosed with NBPP followed at the University of Michigan, Interdisciplinary Brachial Plexus Program (UM-BPP). Self-reported demographics, delivery history, including birth weight (BW) Results Of 337 children with NBPP, 43% (146) were of nulliparas and 57% (191) of multiparas. At 1 year, children with persistent NBPP were similar in both groups (87% vs. 88%, aOR 1.357, 95% CI: 0.297–6.208). Persistent NBPP was not significantly different among nulliparous and multiparous women at 2 years (97% vs. 92% respectively, aOR 0.079, 95% CI: 0.006–1.050). Conclusion In one of the largest cohorts of NBPP, maternal parity did not influence the likelihood of NBPP persistence at 1 and 2 years.