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Objective: The objective was to investigate the association between blood loss at delivery and physical and mental fatigue during the first 12 weeks postpartum. We also investigated the association between hemoglobin and postpartum fatigue. Methods: We performed a single center prospective longitudinal study of healthy women with a singleton delivery. Women completed the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 3 and 7 d, 3, 8 and 12 weeks postpartum. The hemoglobin level was measured at inclusion (baseline). Results: A total of 196 women with blood loss at delivery ranging from 100 to 2800 mL were included in the study. At 12 weeks follow-up the response rate was 92% ( n  = 181). We found a significant association between blood loss and scores of physical and mental fatigue within the first week postpartum. When adjusted for bleeding, hemoglobin measured at inclusion was not associated with fatigue at any given time point. Conclusions: The amount of measured blood loss was significantly associated with increased physical and mental fatigue in the first week postpartum. When adjusted for bleeding, baseline hemoglobin was no longer associated with physical and mental fatigue.

Introduction: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) are serious complications to vaginal delivery causing anal incontinence in 50% of the women in the long term. In Norway, the incidence of OASIS has been significantly reduced from 4%-5% to 1%-2% after implementation of prevention programs focusing on perineal protection. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether implementation of formal prevention programs was associated with a reduced incidence of OASIS over time., Material and Methods: We performed a historical cohort study, evaluating incidence, change of incidence and risk factors of OASIS during the years 2011-2015 at the four delivery departments in the Capital Region of Denmark. Two of the four departments implemented formal prevention programs in 2012-2013. We performed trend tests and uni- and multivariable analyses, adjusting for important risk factors and calculating interactions between risk factors., Results: There were 75 173 vaginal deliveries during the study period; of those, 2670 (3.6%) were complicated by OASIS. The incidence of OASIS decreased during the study period from 4.3% (n = 636) in 2011 to 2.6% (n = 399) in 2015. There was a significant decrease in the incidence of OASIS at both the departments with formal prevention programs and those without. After adjustment for other important risk factors of OASIS, we found no significant difference in the risk reduction between departments with and without formal prevention programs., Conclusions: We found that the general focus on prevention of OASIS in Denmark was associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of OASIS, but implementation of formal prevention programs did not lead to a further reduction. It is possible that more rigorous interventions at the hospitals with formal prevention programs could have resulted in a significant difference in incidence of OASIS., (© 2019 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Purpose: A retained placenta after vaginal delivery where manual removal of placenta fails is a clinical challenge. We present six cases that illustrate the heterogeneity of the condition and discuss the etiology and terminology as well as the clinical management., Methods: Members of the European Working group on Abnormally Invasive Placenta (EW-AIP) were invited to report all recent cases of retained placenta that were not antenatally suspected to be abnormally adherent or invasive, but could not be removed manually despite several attempts., Results: The six cases from Denmark, The Netherlands and the UK provide examples of various treatment strategies such as ultrasound-guided vaginal removal, removal of the placenta through a hysterotomy and just leaving the placenta in situ. The placentas were all retained, but it was only possible to diagnose abnormal invasion in the one case, which had a histopathological diagnosis of increta. Based on these cases we present a flow chart to aid clinical management for future cases., Conclusion: We need properly defined stringent terminology for the different types of retained placenta, as well as improved tools to predict and diagnose both abnormally invasive and abnormally adherent placenta. Clinicians need to be aware of the options available to them when confronted by the rare case of a retained placenta that cannot be removed manually in a hemodynamically stable patient.

Background: Anal incontinence is a major concern following delivery with obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS), and has been related to the degree of sphincter tear., Objective: The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate whether women with a fourth-degree OASIS in the first delivery have an increased risk of long-term anal and fecal incontinence after a second delivery, and (2) to assess the impact of mode of second delivery on anal incontinence and related symptoms in these patients., Materials and Methods: We performed secondary analyses of a national questionnaire study in all Danish women with an OASIS in their first delivery and 1 subsequent delivery, both deliveries in 1997 to 2005. The questionnaires were sent a minimum of 5 years since the second delivery. In Denmark, women with anal incontinence after a delivery with OASIS are recommended elective cesarean deliveries in subsequent pregnancies. We performed uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses to evaluate the outcomes., Results: In total, 2008 patients had an OASIS, of whom 12.2% (n = 245) had a fourth-degree tear in the first delivery. The median follow-up time since the first delivery with OASIS was 11.6 years (IQR, 10.2-13.2 years) and since the second delivery 8.5 years (IQR, 7.1-10.1 years). Women with a fourth-degree sphincter injury in the first delivery were at higher risk for anal incontinence (58.8%, n = 144) as well as fecal incontinence (30.6%, n = 75) than patients with a third-degree injury in the first delivery (41.0%, n = 723, and 14.6%, n = 258, respectively). The differences between groups persisted after adjustment for important maternal, fetal, and obstetric characteristics (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52-3.02; P < 0.001 for anal incontinence; and aOR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.73-3.56; P < 0.001 for fecal incontinence). In subgroup analyses of patients with fourth-degree anal sphincter injury in the first delivery, the mode of second delivery was not associated with the risk of anal incontinence (aOR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.41-1.84; P = 0.71) or fecal incontinence (aOR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.65-2.52; P = 0.48). The effect of the mode of the second delivery did not differ between women with a fourth-degree OASIS and those with a third-degree injury with regard to both anal (P = 0.09) and fecal (P = 0.96) incontinence., Conclusion: After a second delivery, women with a fourth-degree OASIS in the first delivery have a higher risk of long-term anal and fecal incontinence than women with a third-degree sphincter injury. Adjusted odds of long-term anal and fecal incontinence did not differ significantly by mode of second delivery. Women with a fourth-degree OASIS should be informed about the increased risk of long-term anal incontinence and advised that subsequent elective cesarean delivery is not protective., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate prevalence and risk factors for long-term anal incontinence in women with two prior vaginal deliveries without obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS) and to assess the impact of anal incontinence-related symptoms on quality of life., Methods: This is a nation-wide cross-sectional survey study. One thousand women who had a first vaginal delivery and a subsequent delivery, both without OASIS, between 1997 and 2008 in Denmark were identified in the Danish Medical Birth Registry. Women with more than two deliveries in total till 2012 were excluded at this stage. Of the 1000 women randomly identified, 763 were eligible and received a questionnaire. Maternal and obstetric data were retrieved from the national registry., Results: The response rate was 58.3%. In total, 394 women were included for analysis after reviewing responses according to previously defined exclusion criteria. Median follow-up time was 9.8 years after the first delivery and 6.4 years after the second. The prevalence of flatal incontinence, fecal incontinence and fecal urgency were 11.7, 4.1, and 12.3%, respectively. Overall, 20.1% had any degree of anal incontinence and/or fecal urgency. In 6.3% these symptoms affected their quality of life. No maternal or obstetric factors including episiotomy and vacuum extraction were consistently associated with altered risk of anal incontinence in the multivariable analyses., Conclusions: Anal incontinence and fecal urgency is reported by one fifth of women with two vaginal deliveries without OASIS at long-term follow-up. Episiotomy or vacuum extraction did not alter the risk of long-term anal incontinence.

Background: Women with an obstetric anal sphincter injury are concerned about the risk of recurrent obstetric anal sphincter injury in their second pregnancy. Existing studies have failed to clarify whether the recurrence of obstetric anal sphincter injury affects the risk of anal and fecal incontinence at long-term follow-up., Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate whether recurrent obstetric anal sphincter injury influenced the risk of anal and fecal incontinence more than 5 years after the second vaginal delivery., Study Design: We performed a secondary analysis of data from a postal questionnaire study in women with obstetric anal sphincter injury in the first delivery and 1 subsequent vaginal delivery. The questionnaire was sent to all Danish women who fulfilled inclusion criteria and had 2 vaginal deliveries 1997-2005. We performed uni- and multivariable analyses to assess how recurrent obstetric anal sphincter injury affects the risk of anal incontinence., Results: In 1490 women with a second vaginal delivery after a first delivery with obstetric anal sphincter injury, 106 had a recurrent obstetric anal sphincter injury. Of these, 50.0% (n = 53) reported anal incontinence compared with 37.9% (n = 525) of women without recurrent obstetric anal sphincter injury. Fecal incontinence was present in 23.6% (n = 25) of women with recurrent obstetric anal sphincter injury and in 13.2% (n = 182) of women without recurrent obstetric anal sphincter injury. After adjustment for third- or fourth-degree obstetric anal sphincter injury in the first delivery, maternal age at answering the questionnaire, birthweight of the first and second child, years since first and second delivery, and whether anal incontinence was present before the second pregnancy, the risk of flatal and fecal incontinence was still increased in patients with recurrent obstetric anal sphincter injury (adjusted odds ratio, 1.68 [95% confidence interval, 1.05-2.70), P = .03, and adjusted odds ratio, 1.98 [95% confidence interval, 1.13-3.47], P = .02, respectively). More women with recurrent obstetric anal sphincter injury reported affected the quality of life because of anal incontinence (34.9%, n = 37) compared with women without recurrent obstetric anal sphincter injury (24.2%, n = 335), although this difference did not reach statistical significance after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio, 1.53 [95% confidence interval, 0.92-2.56] P = .10)., Conclusion: Women opting for vaginal delivery after obstetric anal sphincter injury should be informed about the risk of recurrence, which is associated with an increased risk of long-term flatal and fecal incontinence., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Primiparous women have an increased risk of obstetric anal sphincter injury; because most of these patients deliver again, there are major concerns about mode of delivery: the risk of recurrent obstetric anal sphincter injury and the risk of long-term symptoms of anal incontinence. Although an elective cesarean delivery protects against recurrent obstetric anal sphincter injury, it is uncertain how the second delivery affects the risk of long-term anal incontinence., Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the mode of delivery for a second pregnancy, after a documented obstetric anal sphincter injury at the time of first delivery, had a significant impact on the prevalence of anal and fecal incontinence in the long term., Study Design: We performed a population-based questionnaire cohort study that evaluated anal and fecal incontinence, fecal urgency, and affected quality of life caused by anal incontinence in 1978 patients who had obstetric anal sphincter injury in the first delivery and a second vaginal (n = 1472 women; 71.9%) or elective cesarean delivery (n = 506 women; 24.7%) delivery. We performed uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses to compare groups., Results: Long-term anal incontinence was reported in 38.9% of patients (n = 573) with second vaginal compared with 53.2% (n = 269) with elective cesarean delivery. The corresponding numbers that reported anal incontinence before the second pregnancy was 29.4% for those with vaginal delivery compared with 56.2% of those with elective cesarean delivery (ie, there was a significantly larger change in the risk of anal incontinence in the group with a second vaginal delivery compared with the change in the group with elective cesarean in second delivery). However, adjusted for important maternal and obstetric characteristics, the risk of long-term anal incontinence was nonsignificantly lower in patients with elective cesarean delivery (adjusted odds ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.57-1.05; P = .09). Furthermore, the risk of fecal incontinence was not affected by mode of delivery in the multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-1.43; P = .79). Patients with persistent anal incontinence before the second pregnancy (n = 496) had an increased risk of long-term anal incontinence (adjusted odds ratio, 64.70; 95% confidence interval, 42.85-97.68; P < .001) and long-term fecal incontinence (adjusted odds ratio, 13.76, 95% confidence interval, 10.03-18.88, P<0.001) compared with patients without anal incontinence before the second pregnancy., Conclusion: Mode of second delivery did not significantly affect the risk of long-term anal or fecal incontinence in multivariable analyses of patients with previous obstetric anal sphincter injury in this population in which patients with anal incontinence before the second pregnancy were recommended to have an elective cesarean delivery in the subsequent delivery. Nonetheless, we found that patients with vaginal delivery had a higher risk of deterioration of anal incontinence symptoms compared with those with an elective cesarean delivery., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Multiple pregnancies have increased in recent years as a result of assisted reproductive therapy thereby increasing the risk of preterm delivery. We report two successful cases of delayed delivery of the second twin after extremely preterm delivery and miscarriage of the first twin. One was treated with antibiotics and early tocolysis, the other with antibiotics and late cervical cerclage. The pregnancies of the second twin were prolonged by 43 and 28 days respectively. Both types of treatments seem to be useful therapeutic options; however, there is currently no defined recommendation for a treatment protocol for delayed delivery of the second twin.

Objective: To determine modifiable risk factors and incidence of obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS) in primiparous women., Study Design: We performed a population-based retrospective cohort study, using data from the Danish Medical Birth Registry. The population consisted of primiparous women with a vaginal delivery in the time period 2000-2010. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine risk factors of OASIS. Main outcome measures were incidence of OASIS in first vaginal delivery, odds ratios for possible risk factors: age, body mass index, birthweight, head circumference, gestational age, presentation, induction of labor, oxytocin augmentation, epidural, mediolateral episiotomy, vacuum extraction, forceps, shoulder dystocia, and year of delivery., Results: Of 214,256 primiparous women with a vaginal delivery, 13,907 (6.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.4-6.6%) experienced an OASIS. The incidence of OASIS increased in the time period (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.02; 95% CI, 1.02-1.03; P < .0001, per year). We found a protective effect of epidural analgesia (aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.81-0.88; P = .0001). Vacuum extraction without episiotomy was a significant risk factor of OASIS (aOR, 2.99; 95% CI, 2.86-3.12; P < .0001), and episiotomy was protective in vacuum-assisted deliveries compared with vacuum-assisted deliveries without episiotomy (aOR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.56-0.65; P < .0001). Birthweight was found to be an important nonmodifiable risk factor (aOR, 2.76; 95% CI, 2.62-2.90; P < .0001)., Conclusion: Epidural analgesia in itself was protective against OASIS. Vacuum extraction increased the risk of OASIS, although mediolateral episiotomy was protective when applied in deliveries assisted by vacuum extraction., (Copyright © 2014 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To examine the association between intended mode of delivery and severe postpartum haemorrhage., Design: A retrospective cohort study., Setting: Material from a nationwide study in Denmark., Population: Danish women giving birth in 2001-08., Methods: We compared use of red blood cell transfusion by intended mode of delivery in the total population (n = 382 266), in low-risk nulliparous women (n = 147 132) and in women with a previous caesarean delivery (n = 25 156)., Main Outcome Measure: Red blood cell transfusion within 7 days of delivery., Results: In the total population the crude transfusion rates for women with planned caesarean delivery and intended vaginal delivery were 2.24 and 1.75%. After adjustment for maternal age, body mass index, birthweight, smoking, parity, number of infants and previous caesarean delivery, the risk of red blood cell transfusion was significantly lower in women with planned caesarean delivery compared with intended vaginal delivery (odds ratio 0.82; 95% CI 0.73-0.92; P < 0.01). In low-risk nulliparous women and in women with a previous caesarean delivery the transfusion rates were lower for planned caesarean delivery compared with intended vaginal delivery before and after adjustment., Conclusion: Compared with intended vaginal delivery, planned caesarean delivery was associated with a reduced risk of severe postpartum haemorrhage indicated by use of red blood cell transfusion., (© 2012 The Authors BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology © 2012 RCOG.)

Objective: To evaluate the effect of multi-professional obstetric skills training on the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) indicated by red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and time delay in surgical interventions before, during, and after implementation of the training., Design: A database audit., Setting: University hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark., Population: Women receiving red blood cell (RBC) transfusion up to seven days postpartum before (2003), during (2005), and after (2007) the introduction of training., Methods: Linkage of the Danish Medical Birth Registry and the local transfusion database, followed by audit of medical records. We identified 148 women with RBC transfusion for PPH in 10 461 deliveries and assessed the cause of PPH, surgical interventions and transfusion data., Main Outcome Measures: RBC transfusion. Delay to surgical intervention., Results: RBC transfusion rates for PPH were 1.5% (2003), 1.6% (2005), and 1.2% (2007) (not statistically significant). The transfusion rates did not change after vaginal delivery but decreased after cesarean section [2.4, 2.1 and 0.7% (p<0.01)]. Transfusion requirements and pre-transfusion hemoglobin values did not change. The median time from delivery to manual removal of the placenta increased non-significantly (64, 70 and 75 minutes). The median time from decision to manual removal of the placenta remained unchanged (30 minutes)., Conclusion: There was no effect of multi-professional obstetric skills training on the rate of RBC transfusion for PPH. The unchanged long delay in handling a retained placenta indicates a need for multi-disciplinary training in collaboration with staff from anesthesiology and the operation theater., (© 2012 The Authors Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica© 2012 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

The aim of the study was to investigate whether deaths in term breech deliveries could have been avoided with improved care during pregnancy and delivery. All cases of intrapartum/early neonatal death of nonmalformed infants in breech presentation delivered at term in Denmark in the period 1982-92 were studied. For each of the 12 deaths two controls matched by presentation and planned mode of delivery were selected. Eleven obstetricians assessed the care through narratives that ended when the infant was delivered to umbilicus and stated if the infant died, and whether the "possible death" was potentially avoidable. The majority thought that 42% of cases and 9% of the controls had died. Antenatal and intrapartum care was suboptimal respectively in 17% and 25% of cases and 4% and 26% of controls. The assumed death was found to have been potentially avoidable in 58% of cases and 17% of controls. Care in pregnancies with IUGR, pre-eclampsia, placental abruption, post-maturity, the time from decision to performance of cesarean section, and compliance between patient and professionals were more often criticized in cases than in controls. Controlled audit seemed to be a valuable tool for quality improvement and for validation of litigation activities. In conclusion, infant death at term breech delivery was to a large extent potentially avoidable. However, even in controls, suboptimal care was not uncommon.

Objective: To determine whether the conduct of the second stage of labor and delivery technique influences the incidence of rupture of the anal sphincter., Material and Method: A total of 1072 primipara delivered vaginally at term at Rigshospitalet in 1998. A questionnaire on prenatal risk factors, conduct of the second stage of labor, and delivery technique was completed by the attending midwife immediately after delivery in 90 cases with rupture of the sphincter and in two subsequent controls (n = 164), matched by use of vacuum extractor and episiotomy., Results: Partial or total sphincter rupture was found in 8.4% of primipara who delivered vaginally, in 20.9% of those delivered by vacuum extraction, and in 6.4% of those with episiotomy only. The prenatal risk factors--maternal age, birth weight, shoulder dystocia, and edema of the perineum were found to have a statistically significant effect on the incidence of rupture of the sphincter ani. In non-instrumental vaginal deliveries easing of the perineum over the caput as it advanced helped prevent a rupture of the anal sphincter. Vacuum extraction performed with the woman in a semi-recumbant position was associated with an increased risk of rupture of the anal sphincter, whereas attention to the perineum during extraction decreased the risk., Conclusions: The significant effect of prenatal risk factors did not explain a correlation between delivery technique and rupture of the sphincter ani. The present study indicates that a reduction in the incidence of sphincter rupture may be accomplished by improved obstetric care: fewer vacuum extractions and improved delivery technique.

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of intended mode of delivery on neonatal outcome in term breech delivery and to identify risk factors at intended vaginal delivery. Based on register data on all deliveries of non-malformed, singleton fetuses in breech presentation at term (n = 19,476) in Denmark, 1982-92, a review of medical records of all (n = 218) cases with Apgar score < 7 at 5 minutes, including intrapartum and early neonatal deaths and 412 controls, was performed. Planned vaginal delivery was associated with a 15 times greater risk of low Apgar score than elective Caesarean section. Low Apgar score was correlated with duration of second stage of labour, but not with age, parity, birthweight, induction, augmentation or duration of first stage of labour. In conclusion, a pre-labour decision on vaginal delivery was associated with a 15-fold increase in low Apgar score. Prediction of low Apgar score in women selected for vaginal delivery does not seem possible before the second stage of labour.

Pushing in the expulsive phase of labour can be forced or follow the spontaneous urge to bear down. Recent studies have shown that spontaneous pushing results in a longer second stage, fewer CTG changes, higher pH in the umbilical artery and less damage to the birth canal. In a randomized trial of spontaneous vs. forced pushing in 350 primipareous women, we found no difference between the two randomized groups with regard to the mentioned variables. Sixty-five point six percent allotted to spontaneous pushing used the closed glottis technique for more than half the expulsive phase. When divided into two groups according to the actual pushing technique used most, the women who used the open glottis technique had a shorter second stage of labor and gave birth to infants with lower birth weight. Recommendation to use spontaneous bearing down efforts did not result in fewer complications to the infant or the mother than recommendation of expulsion by the closed glottis technique.

Background: Pushing in the second stage of labor can be forced or follow the spontaneous urge to bear down. Recent studies have shown that spontaneous pushing results in a longer second stage, fewer CTG changes, higher arterial pH and less damage to the birth canal., Method: Randomized trial of spontaneous vs. forced pushing in 350 primiparous women., Results: There was no difference between the randomized groups in duration of second stage of labor, umbilical arterial pH or damage to the birth canal. Of the women allotted to spontaneous pushing, 65.6% used the closed glottis technique for more than half the expulsive phase. When dividing the women into two groups according to the actual pushing technique used most, open or closed glottis, it turned out that women who used the open glottis technique had a shorter second stage of labor and gave birth to infants with lower birth weight., Conclusion: Recommending of spontaneous bearing down during the expulsive phase of labor did not result in a significant difference in duration of the second stage of labor, fetal arterial pH or less damage to the birth canal. Women who chose the open glottis technique had a shorter expulsive phase and gave birth to smaller infants than those who used the closed glottis technique.