Search

Introduction: Occiput posterior (OP) position rates at birth are 5%-8% in studies mainly comprising white European women. The anthropoid pelvis is common in black African women. This pelvic shape has a narrow anterior segment and an ample room posteriorly. The fetal head is wider posteriorly, and the OP position may be favorable in women with an anthropoid pelvic shape. We aimed to examine the fetal rotation with ultrasound longitudinally during the active phase of labor in a sub-Saharan population. We also aimed to examine associations between fetal position, delivery mode, and duration of labor., Material and Methods: The study was conducted at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Moshi, Tanzania from the 19th of November 2023 to 13th of April 2024. Women with a single fetus in cephalic presentation, gestational age >37 weeks, without previous or pre-labor cesarean section were eligible. Fetal position was classified as occiput anterior (OA) from 10 to 2 o'clock, occiput transverse (OT) at 3 or 9 o'clock, and OP position from 4 to 8 o'clock., Results: The study participants comprised 215 women. Fetal positions at admission, in the first and second stage of labor and at birth are presented in the graphical figure. In all, 65/215 (30.2%) fetuses were in OP position at admission, 59/204 (28.9%) in the first stage, 38/210 (18.1%) in the second stage and 35/215 (16.3%) were delivered in OP position. The OP rates at birth were 25/92 (27.2%) in nulliparous and 10/123 (8.1%) in parous women. The operative delivery rate was 10/157 (6.4%) in women with ultrasound assessed fetal position as OA in the second stage (six cesarean section and four vacuum extractions), and 28/48 (58.3%) in the non-OA group (27 cesarean section and one vacuum extraction) (p < 0.01). The hazard ratio for delivery in the second stage was 0.26 (95% CI 0.13-0.52) for the non-OA versus the OA group in nulliparous women and 0.25 (95% CI 0.12-0.52) in parous women., Conclusions: The persistent OP position rate at birth was higher than previously reported, and the operative intervention rate was nine time higher in women with the fetus in non-OA versus OA position in the second stage., (© 2024 The Author(s). Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NFOG).)

Introduction: In clinical experience, occiput posterior (OP) position is associated with longer labor duration than occiput anterior (OA) position, but few studies have investigated the association between labor duration and fetal position. We aimed to compare duration of the active phase of labor in OP deliveries with OA deliveries in a contemporary population using survival methods. Secondary aims were to compare the frequencies of operative interventions, obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS), postpartum hemorrhage, and newborn outcomes in OP with OA deliveries., Material and Methods: We did a historical cohort study in three university hospitals in Norway from 2012 to 2022. Women with a single fetus in cephalic presentation, no previous cesarean section and gestational age ≥37 weeks were eligible and stratified into the first four groups of the Robson ten-group classification system (TGCS). We estimated the mean duration and calculated the hazard ratio (HR) for delivery using survival analyses. Cesarean sections and instrumental vaginal deliveries were censored., Results: The study population comprised 112 019 women, 105 571 (94.2%) were delivered in OA and 6448 (5.8%) in OP position. The estimated mean duration of the active phase of labor was longer in women with the fetus in OP position in all four TGCS groups. The estimated duration was longer in the OP groups in analyses stratified with respect to epidural analgesia and oxytocin augmentation. The graphical abstract illustrates the probability of delivery in OP compared with OA position in merged TGCS groups 1 and 2a, as a function of time. The unadjusted HR was 0.33 (95% CI 0.31-0.36) for fetuses delivered in OP position compared with OA position in TGCS group 1, 0.25 (95% CI 0.21-0.27) in group 2a, 0.70 (95% CI 0.67-0.73) in group 3, and 0.61 (95% CI 0.55-0.67) in group 4a, respectively. Neither maternal age, gestational age, BMI nor birthweight had confounding effect. Operative delivery rates and OASIS rates were higher in OP position in all four groups., Conclusions: We found longer duration of the active phase of labor in women with the fetus delivered in OP position in all four TGCS groups., (© 2024 The Author(s). Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NFOG).)

Fetal head descent can be expressed as fetal station and engagement. Station is traditionally based on clinical vaginal examination of the distal part of the fetal skull and related to the level of the ischial spines. Engagement is based on a transabdominal examination of the proximal part of the fetal head above the pelvic inlet. Clinical examinations are subjective, and objective measurements of descent are warranted. Ultrasound is a feasible diagnostic tool in labor, and fetal lie, station, position, presentation, and attitude can be examined. This review presents an overview of fetal descent examined with ultrasound. Ultrasound was first introduced for examining fetal descent in 1977. The distance from the sacral tip to the fetal skull was measured with A-mode ultrasound, but more convenient transperineal methods have since been published. Of those, progression distance, angle of progression, and head-symphysis distance are examined in the sagittal plane, using the inferior part of the symphysis pubis as reference point. Head-perineum distance is measured in the frontal plane (transverse transperineal scan) as the shortest distance from perineum to the fetal skull, representing the remaining part of the birth canal for the fetus to pass. At high stations, the fetal head is directed downward, followed with a horizontal and then an upward direction when the fetus descends in the birth canal and deflexes the head. Head descent may be assessed transabdominally with ultrasound and measured as the suprapubic descent angle. Many observational studies have shown that fetal descent assessed with ultrasound can predict labor outcome before induction of labor, as an admission test, and during the first and second stage of labor. Labor progress can also be examined longitudinally. The International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends using ultrasound in women with prolonged or arrested first or second stage of labor, when malpositions or malpresentations are suspected, and before an operative vaginal delivery. One single ultrasound parameter cannot tell for sure whether an instrumental delivery is going to be successful. Information about station and position is a prerequisite, but head direction, presentation, and attitude also should be considered., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: There are many risk factors for obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS) and the interaction between these risk factors is complex and understudied. The many observational studies that have shown a reduction of OASIS rates after implementation of perineal support have short follow-up time. We aimed to study the effect of integration of active perineal support and lateral episiotomy on OASIS rates over a 15-year period and to study interactions between risk factors known before delivery., Material and Methods: We performed a historical cohort study over the periods 1999-2006 and 2007-2021 at Stavanger University Hospital, Norway. The main outcome was OASIS rates. Women without a previous cesarean section and a live singleton fetus in cephalic presentation at term were eligible. The department implemented in 2007 the Finnish concept of active perineal protection, which includes support of perineum, control of fetal expulsion, good communication with the mother and observation of perineal stretching. The practice of mediolateral episiotomy was replaced with lateral episiotomy when indicated. We analyzed the OASIS rates in groups with and without episiotomy stratified for delivery mode, fetal position at delivery and for parity, and adjusted for possible confounders (maternal age, gestational age, oxytocin augmentation and epidural analgesia)., Results: We observed a long-lasting reduction in OASIS rates from 4.9% to 1.9% and an increase in episiotomy rates from 14.4% to 21.8%. Lateral episiotomy was associated with lower OASIS rates in nulliparous women with instrumental vaginal deliveries and occiput anterior (OA) position; 3.4% vs 10.1% (OR 0.31; 95% CI: 0.24-0.40) and 6.1 vs 13.9% (OR 0.40; 95% CI: 0.19-0.82) in women with occiput posterior (OP) position. Lateral episiotomy was also associated with lower OASIS rates in nulliparous women with spontaneous deliveries and OA position; 2.1% vs 3.2% (OR 0.62; 95% CI: 0.49-0.80). The possible confounders had little confounding effects on the risk of OASIS in groups with and without episiotomy., Conclusions: We observed a long-lasting reduction in OASIS rates after implementation of preventive procedures. Lateral episiotomy was associated with lower OASIS rates in nulliparous women with an instrumental delivery. Special attention should be paid to deliveries with persistent OP position., (© 2023 The Authors. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NFOG).)

Introduction: There is limited evidence about changes in the pelvic floor during active labor. We aimed to investigate changes in hiatal dimensions during the active first stage of labor and associations with fetal descent and head position., Material and Methods: We conducted a longitudinal, prospective cohort study at the National University Hospital of Iceland, from 2016 to 2018. Nulliparous women with spontaneous onset of labor, a single fetus in cephalic presentation, and gestational age ≥37 weeks were eligible. Fetal position was assessed with transabdominal ultrasound and fetal descent was measured with transperineal ultrasound. Three-dimensional volumes were acquired from transperineal scanning at the start of the active phase of labor and in late first stage or early second stage. The largest transverse hiatal diameter was measured in the plane of minimal hiatal dimensions. The levator urethral gap was measured as the distance between the center of the urethra and the levator insertion using tomographic ultrasound imaging. Measurements of the levator urethral gap were made in the plane of minimal hiatal dimensions and 2.5 and 5 mm cranial to this., Results: The final study population comprised 78 women. The mean transverse hiatal diameter increased 12.4% between the two examinations, from 39.4 ± 4.1 mm (±standard deviation) at the first examination to 44.3 ± 5.8 mm at the last examination (p < 0.01). We found a moderate correlation between the transverse hiatal diameter and fetal station at the last examination (r = 0.44, r 2  = 0.19; p < 0.01; regression equation y = 2.71 + 0.014x), and a weak correlation between the change in transverse hiatal diameter and change in fetal station (r = 0.29; r 2  = 0.08; p = 0.01; regression equation y = 0.24 + 0.012x). Levator urethral gap increased significantly in all three planes on both the left and right sides. Head position was not associated with hiatal measurements after adjusting for fetal station., Conclusions: We found a significant, but only modest, increase of the hiatal dimensions during the first stage of labor. The risk of levator ani trauma will therefore be low during this stage. The change in transverse hiatal diameter was associated with fetal descent but not with head position., (© 2023 The Authors. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NFOG).)

Objective: Both duration of labour and use of oxytocin for augmentation are known risk factors for postpartum haemorrhage but distinguishing between the significance of these factors is complex. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between both labour duration and oxytocin augmentation, for postpartum haemorrhage., Design: A cohort study based on a secondary analysis of a cluster-randomised trial., Participants and Setting: Term nulliparous women with a single foetus in cephalic presentation, spontaneous onset of active labour and a vaginal birth. The participants were originally included in cluster-randomised trial conducted in Norway from December 1, 2014, to January 31, 2017, that aimed to compare the frequency of intrapartum caesarean sections when adhering to the WHO partograph versus Zhang's guideline., Measurements: The data were analysed through four statistical models. Model 1 investigated the effect of oxytocin augmentation as a dichotomous variable (yes/no); Model 2 investigated the effect of the duration of oxytocin augmentation; Model 3 investigated the effect of the maximum dose of oxytocin; and Model 4 investigated the effect of both the duration of augmentation and the maximum dose of oxytocin. All four models included duration of labour divided into five time-intervals. We used binary logistic regression to estimate the odds ratios of postpartum haemorrhage, defined as blood loss of ≥ 1000 ml, including a random intercept for hospital and mutually adjusting for oxytocin augmentation and labour duration in addition to maternal age, maternal marital status, maternal higher education level, maternal smoking habits in the first trimester, maternal body mass index and birth weight., Findings: Model 1 found a significant association between the use of oxytocin and postpartum haemorrhage. In Model 2, oxytocin augmentation of ≥ 4.5 h was associated with postpartum haemorrhage. In Model 3, we found an association between a maximum dose of oxytocin of ≥ 20 mU/min and postpartum haemorrhage. Model 4 showed that a maximum dose of oxytocin ≥ 20 mU/min was associated with postpartum haemorrhage both for those augmented < 4.5 h and for those augmented ≥ 4.5 h. Duration of labour was associated with postpartum haemorrhage in all models if lasting ≥ 16 h., Key Conclusions: We found both oxytocin augmentation and labour duration to be associated with postpartum haemorrhage. Oxytocin doses of ≥ 20 mU/min and a labour duration of ≥ 16 h showed an independent association., Implication for Practice: The potent drug oxytocin should be carefully administered, as doses of ≥ 20 mU/min were associated with an increased risk of PPH, regardless of the duration of oxytocin augmentation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: To explore the duration of the active phase of the second stage of labour in relation to maternal pre-pregnant body mass index (BMI)., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Labour wards of three Norwegian university hospitals, 2012-2019., Population: Nulliparous and parous women without previous caesarean section with a live singleton fetus in cephalic presentation and spontaneous onset of labour, corresponding to the Ten Group Classification System (TGCS) group 1 and 3., Methods: Women were stratified to BMI groups according to WHO classification, and estimated median duration of the active phase of the second stage of labour was calculated using survival analyses. Caesarean sections and operative vaginal deliveries during the active phase were censored., Main Outcome Measures: Estimated median duration of the active phase of second stage of labour., Results: In all, 47 942 women were included in the survival analyses. Increasing BMI was associated with shorter estimated median duration of the active second stage in both TGCS groups. In TGCS group 1, the estimated median durations (interquartile range) were 44 (26-75), 43 (25-71), 39 (22-70), 33 (18-63), 34 (19-54) and 29 (16-56) minutes in BMI groups 1-6, respectively. In TGCS group 3, the corresponding values were 11 (6-19), 10 (6-17), 10 (6-16), 9 (5-15), 8 (5-13) and 7 (4-11) minutes. Increasing BMI remained associated with shorter estimated median duration in analyses stratified by oxytocin augmentation and epidural analgesia., Conclusion: Increasing BMI was associated with shorter estimated median duration of the active second stage of labour., (© 2022 The Authors. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To investigate outcomes in spontaneous and induced twin deliveries. Secondary aims were to study impact of delivery interval and breech presentation of the first twin., Methods: This retrospective cohort study comprised 354 twin deliveries at a tertiary Norwegian hospital. Spontaneous labor onset and induction of labor were compared in women with planned vaginal delivery and gestational age ≥ 34 weeks. The main outcome was intrapartum cesarean section. Secondary outcomes were umbilical arterial pH and five-minute Apgar scores., Results: Among the induced labors, 63/229 (27.5%) women underwent intrapartum cesarean section, compared to 45/125 (36%) in spontaneous labors (P = 0.10). Odds ratio for intrapartum cesarean section in induced labors was 0.65 (95% CI 0.40-1.04) after adjusting for maternal age and parity. Median umbilical arterial pH was significantly lower in the second twins in both spontaneous and induced labors, 7.28 (6.94-7.43) vs. 7.32 (7.16-7.42), and 7.27 (6.90-7.48) vs. 7.29 (7.08-7.45), respectively. pH < 7.00 rarely occurred. Second twins born after a delivery interval > 30 min had a significantly higher frequency of pH < 7.10 than those with a shorter interval, P < 0.01. No significant difference was found in frequency of pH < 7.10 between breech-presenting and cephalic-presenting first twins (P = 0.65). One unexpected intrapartum fetal death occurred after labor induction., Conclusion: Our results support spontaneous onset and induction of labor as safe. Intrapartum cesarean section rates did not differ significantly between spontaneous and induced labors. Delivery interval > 30 min was associated with a lower pH in the second twin., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Childbirth experience is an increasingly recognized and important measure of quality of obstetric care. Previous research has shown that it can be affected by intrapartum care and how labor is followed. A partograph is recommended to follow labor progression by recording cervical dilation over time. There are currently different guidelines in use worldwide to follow labor progression. The two main ones are the partograph recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) based on the work of Friedman and Philpott and a guideline based on Zhang's research. In our study we assessed the effect of adhering to Zhang's guideline or the WHO partograph on childbirth experience. Zhang's guideline describes expected normal labor progression based on data from contemporary obstetric populations, resulting in an exponential progression curve, compared with the linear WHO partograph. The choice of labor curve affects the intrapartum follow-up of women and this could potentially affect childbirth experience., Material and Methods: The Labor Progression Study (LaPS) study was a prospective, cluster randomized controlled trial conducted at 14 birth centers in Norway. Birth centers were randomized to either follow Zhang's guideline or the WHO partograph. Nulliparous women in active labor, with one fetus in cephalic presentation at term and spontaneous labor onset were included. At 4 weeks postpartum, included women received an online login to complete the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ). Total score on the CEQ, the four domain scores on the CEQ, and scores on the individual items on the CEQ were compared between the two groups., Results: There were 1855 women in the Zhang group and 1749 women in the WHO partograph group. There was no difference in the total or domain CEQ scores between the two groups. We found statistically significant differences for two individual items; women in the Zhang group scored lower on positive memories and feeling of control., Conclusions: Based on our findings on childbirth experience there is no reason to prefer Zhang's guideline over the WHO partograph., (© 2021 The Authors. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NFOG).)

Background: Determining fetal head descent, expressed as fetal head station and engagement is an essential part of monitoring progression in labor. Assessing fetal head station is based on the distal part of the fetal skull, whereas assessing engagement is based on the proximal part. Prerequisites for assisted vaginal birth are that the fetal head should be engaged and its lowermost part at or below the level of the ischial spines. The part of the fetal head above the pelvic inlet reflects the true descent of the largest diameter of the skull. In molded (reshaped) fetal heads, the leading bony part of the skull may be below the ischial spines while the largest diameter of the fetal skull still remains above the pelvic inlet. An attempt at assisted vaginal birth in such a situation would be associated with risks. Therefore, the vaginal or transperineal assessments of station should be supplemented with a transabdominal examination. We suggest a method for the assessment of fetal head descent with transabdominal ultrasound., Objective: To investigate the correlation between transabdominal and transperineal assessment of fetal head descent, and to study fetal head shape at different labor stages and head positions., Study Design: Women with term singleton cephalic pregnancies admitted to the labor ward for induction of labor or in spontaneous labor, at the Cairo University Hospital and Oslo University Hospital from December 2019 to December 2020 were included. Fetal head descent was assessed with transabdominal ultrasound as the suprapubic descent angle between a longitudinal line through the symphysis pubis and a line from the upper part of the symphysis pubis extending tangentially to the fetal skull. We compared measurements with transperineally assessed angle of progression and investigated interobserver agreement. We also measured the part of fetal head above and below the symphysis pubis at different labor stages., Results: The study population comprised 123 women, of whom 19 (15%) were examined before induction of labor, 8 (7%) in the latent phase, 52 (42%) in the active first stage and 44 (36%) in the second stage. The suprapubic descent angle and the angle of progression could be measured in all cases. The correlation between the transabdominal and transperineal measurements was -0.90 (95% confidence interval, -0.86 to -0.93). Interobserver agreement was examined in 30 women and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.98 (95% confidence interval, 0.95-0.99). The limits of agreement were from -9.5 to 7.8 degrees. The fetal head was more elongated in occiput posterior position than in non-occiput posterior positions in the second stage of labor., Conclusion: We present a novel method of examining fetal head descent by assessing the proximal part of the fetal skull with transabdominal ultrasound. The correlation with transperineal ultrasound measurements was strong, especially early in labor. The fetal head was elongated in the occiput posterior position during the second stage of labor., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: We hypothesised that the examinations offered to pregnant women at fetal medicine centres differ from those offered to other pregnant women in Norway. We therefore wanted to investigate the incidence, prenatal diagnostics and pregnancy terminations in cases of trisomy 21. We also wanted to compare the figures from the National Center for Fetal Medicine, St Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, with national figures for Norway., Material and Method: We analysed figures for the period 1999-2018 retrospectively. National data were compared with an unselected population whose local hospital is St Olav's Hospital. National figures were retrieved from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway and local figures were from the quality registry at the National Center for Fetal Medicine., Results: The national incidence of trisomy 21 was 0.20 %, varying from 0.14 % to 0.23 %, and showed a significant increase over time (p < 0.01). The increasing incidence showed an association with increasing age in the women (p < 0.01). The incidence of live births was stable, even though the proportion of pregnancy terminations increased. In the local population, the incidence of trisomy 21 was 0.19 %. A total of 68.2 % of the local population were diagnosed prenatally, and 87.7 % of these pregnant women terminated the pregnancy. There was a significantly higher proportion of pregnancy terminations in the local population than in the remainder of the national population (p < 0.01)., Interpretation: The difference in the proportion of pregnancy terminations may be associated with variation in access to prenatal diagnostics.

Introduction: Oxytocin augmentation is essential in labor management, but how to optimize its use is still debated. Joint international guidelines regarding prolonged labor and the use of oxytocin augmentation are still not available. Due to its potential harmful side effects, a decreased use of oxytocin is encouraged. We aimed to implement a structured protocol on the use of oxytocin augmentation and to observe changes in labor outcomes., Materials and Methods: The protocol was implemented at the Obstetric Department of Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway on 1 January 2012; therefore, data from the hospital were collected prospectively and compared for two time-period cohorts: the historic control cohort (2009-2010) and the study period cohort (2012-2013). The structured protocol instructs, and restricts, the birth attendants to diagnose prolonged labor, by protocol definition only, before commencing oxytocin infusion for augmentation. Nulliparous women with singleton, term deliveries (≥37 weeks), cephalic presentation, and spontaneous onset of labor (Ten-Group Classification System (TGCS) group 1) were included in the analysis. The main outcome was use of oxytocin augmentation., Results: The study cohort and control cohort comprised 1103 (26.2%) and 1399 (33.1%) of all laboring women, respectively ( p  < .01). The protocol was followed satisfactorily in 78% of the study cohort. The use of oxytocin augmentation was reduced in the study cohort versus the control cohort; 41.3 versus 48.9% ( p  < .01); mean oxytocin infusion duration was shorter (100 versus 123 min; p  < .01); and mean total oxytocin dose decreased (1009 versus 1293 mU; p  < .01). The cesarean section rate was 5.9% in the study cohort versus 8.0% in the control cohort ( p  = .04). The estimated mean duration of the active phase of labor increased by 47 min ( p  < .01) after the implementation. The frequency of estimated postpartum hemorrhage >1000 ml was higher, 4.9 versus 2.0% ( p  < .01), but the use of blood transfusions remained stable, 2.5 versus 2.7% ( p  = .78), the study cohort versus control cohort, respectively., Conclusions: Implementation of a protocol of structured use of oxytocin augmentation reduced the frequency, dosage, and duration of oxytocin without increasing the cesarean section rate in TGCS group 1.

The first stage of labor is from the start of active labor until the cervix is fully dilatated. To assess labor progress during this stage, a clinical examination has traditionally been done. The cervical dilatation, fetal head position, and fetal head station are evaluated. Moreover, these observations can be made with an ultrasound examination. Studies have shown that traditional clinical examinations are subjective, have poor reproducibility, and are unreliable. Ultrasound examinations of the fetal head station and fetal head position in the first stage of labor might predict labor outcome and mode of delivery and can help in decision making when prolonged first stage of labor is diagnosed., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The mechanics of labor describe the forces required for fetal descent, and the movements that the fetus must perform to overcome the resistance met by the maternal bony pelvis and soft tissue. The fetus negotiates the birth canal and rotational movements are necessary for descent. Anglo-American literature lists 7 cardinal movements, namely engagement, descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, external rotation, and expulsion. German and older English literature lists only 4 rotational movements as the cardinal movements and excludes engagement, descent, and expulsion. We would argue that descent is the main purpose of the uterine powers and cardinal movements, a description of the rotational movements the fetal head and shoulders must perform to obtain descent. Ultrasound offers a historically unique opportunity for noninvasive, dynamic studies of the mechanics of labor. The information gathered by clinical examination and ultrasound should be integrated into clinical decision making., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Identifying predictive factors for a normal outcome at admission in the labor ward would be of value for planning labor care, timing interventions, and preventing labor dystocia. Clinical assessments of fetal head station and position at the start of labor have some predictive value, but the value of ultrasound methods for this purpose has not been investigated. Studies using transperineal ultrasound before labor onset show possibilities of using these methods to predict outcomes., Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether ultrasound measurements during the first examination in the active phase of labor were associated with the duration of labor phases and the need for operative delivery., Study Design: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study at Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland. Nulliparous women at ≥37 weeks' gestation with a single fetus in cephalic presentation and in active spontaneous labor were eligible for the study. The recruitment period was from January 2016 to April 2018. Women were examined by a midwife on admission and included in the study if they were in active labor, which was defined as regular contractions with a fully effaced cervix, dilatation of ≥4 cm. An ultrasound examination was performed by a separate examiner within 15 minutes; both examiners were blinded to the other's results. Transabdominal and transperineal ultrasound examinations were used to assess fetal head position, cervical dilatation, and fetal head station, expressed as head-perineum distance and angle of progression. Duration of labor was estimated as the hazard ratio for spontaneous delivery using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis. The hazard ratios were adjusted for maternal age and body mass index. The associations between study parameters and mode of delivery were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves., Results: Median times to spontaneous delivery were 490 minutes for a head-perineum distance of ≤45 mm and 682 minutes for a head-perineum distance of >45 mm (log-rank test, P=.009; adjusted hazard ratio for a shorter head-perineum distance, 1.47 [95% confidence interval, 0.83-2.60]). The median durations were 506 minutes for an angle of progression of ≥93° and 732 minutes for an angle of progression of <93° (log-rank test, P=.008; adjusted hazard ratio, 2.07 [95% confidence interval, 1.15-3.72]). The median times to delivery were 506 minutes for nonocciput posterior positions and 677 minutes for occiput posterior positions (log-rank test, P=.07; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.52 [95% confidence interval, 0.96-2.38]) Median times to delivery were 429 minutes for a dilatation of ≥6 cm and 704 minutes for a dilatation of 4 to 5 cm (log-rank test, P=.002; adjusted hazard ratio, 3.11 [95% confidence interval, 1.68-5.77]). Overall, there were 75 spontaneous deliveries; among those deliveries, 16 were instrumental vaginal deliveries (1 forceps delivery and 15 ventouse deliveries), and 8 were cesarean deliveries. Head-perineum distance and angle of progression were associated with a spontaneous delivery with area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.68 (95% confidence interval, 0.55-0.80) and 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.55-0.80), respectively. Ultrasound measurement of cervical dilatation or position at inclusion was not significantly associated with spontaneous delivery., Conclusion: Ultrasound examinations showed that fetal head station and cervical dilatation were associated with the duration of labor; however, measurements of fetal head station were the variables best associated with operative deliveries., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: There is limited evidence on the safety and outcome of induction of breech labor. In this study, we aimed to compare the outcomes of spontaneous and induced breech deliveries and to describe variations in induction rates., Material and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study comprising 1054 singleton live fetuses in breech presentation at Trondheim University Hospital from 2012 to 2019. The main outcome was intrapartum cesarean section, and secondary outcomes were postpartum hemorrhage, anal sphincter ruptures, Apgar scores, pH in the umbilical artery, and metabolic acidosis. All data were obtained from the hospital birth journal., Results: Induction of labor was performed in 127/606 (21.0%) women with planned vaginal birth. The frequency of intrapartum cesarean section was 48.0% for induced labor vs 45.7% for spontaneous labor (P = .64). We found no differences in the frequency of postpartum hemorrhage or anal sphincter ruptures between induced and spontaneous births. The median pH in the umbilical artery was significantly lower in neonates with induced labor compared with neonates with spontaneous labor (7.22 vs 7.25; P = .02). The frequency of pH <7.05 was 7.0% for induced labor vs 2.9% (P = .05) for spontaneous labor, but the frequency of pH <7.0 was not significantly different: 2.6% vs 0.8% (P = .14), respectively. Three neonates with planned vaginal birth had metabolic acidosis: two with spontaneous labors and one with induced labor. Three fetuses with planned vaginal birth died during labor: two with spontaneous onset of labor and one with induced labor. All three were extremely preterm: two were delivered in week 23 and one in week 25. We did not observe any significant trend in induction rates in either parous or nulliparous women., Conclusions: The induction rates were stable during the study period. We did not observe any significant difference in intrapartum cesarean section rates, in the frequency of pH <7.0 in the umbilical artery, or in the frequency of metabolic acidosis when comparing induced and spontaneous breech deliveries., (© 2021 The Authors. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NFOG).)

Objectives: Exact knowledge of fetal station and position is of paramount importance for reliable surveillance of labor progress and a prerequisite for safe operative vaginal procedures. Detailed clinical assessments are thoroughly described in old textbooks, but almost forgotten in contemporary obstetrics. Ultrasound is suggested as an objective diagnostic tool in active labor. Several publications have demonstrated a low correlation between ultrasound and clinical assessment of fetal head station and position, but the methods of clinical assessment in these studies are poorly described. We wanted to explore if a quality clinical assessment could perform better than clinical assessment in previous publications, by analyzing the correlation between a structured method of clinical assessment and intrapartum ultrasound., Methods: In all, 100 laboring women with cervical dilatation ≥7 cm were included in a prospective cohort study at Oslo University Hospital-Ullevål from October to December 2016. The study design was cross-sectional. Clinical examinations were performed by one special educated consultant (JKI), and transabdominal and transperineal ultrasound clips were recorded and examined by a blinded expert in intrapartum ultrasound (TME). Fetal position was classified as a clock face with 12 units (hourly divisions) and thereafter categorized as occiput anterior (OA), left occiput transverse (LOT), occiput posterior (OP), and right occiput transverse (ROT) positions. Fetal station was categorized clinically from -5 to +5 and measured with ultrasound as angle of progression (AoP) and head-perineum distance (HPD). AoP is the angle between a longitudinal line through the symphysis and a tangent to the head contour. HPD is the shortest distance between the fetal skull and the perineum., Results: Eight women were excluded due to strong contractions between clinical assessments and ultrasound measurements, fetal distress, or incomplete examinations. Fetal position assessed with ultrasound and clinical examination agreed exactly in 48/92 (52%) of cases, within one unit (hour) in 87/92 (95%) of cases and within two units in 90/92 (98%) of cases. It differed by three units in one case and by five units in one case. The agreement categorized into OA, LOT, OP, and ROT was good (Cohen's kappa 0.72; 95% CI 0.61-0.84). For station, the agreement was very good for both HPD (Pearson correlation coefficient r  = 0.86; 95% CI 0.80-0.91) and AoP ( r  = 0.77; 95% CI to 0.67-0.84). The correlation between HPD and AoP was good ( r  = 0.76; 95% CI 0.65-0.84)., Conclusion: We found very good correlations between structured clinical assessments and ultrasound examinations, suggesting that an objective quality in clinical examinations is possible to achieve. More focus on clinical skills training may improve accuracy for clinicians.

Background: Improved information about the evolution of fetal head rotation during labor is required. Ultrasound methods have the potential to provide reliable new knowledge about fetal head position., Objective: The aim of the study was to describe fetal head rotation in women in spontaneous labor at term using ultrasound longitudinally throughout the active phase., Study Design: This was a single center, prospective cohort study at Landspitali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland, from January 2016 to April 2018. Nulliparous women with a single fetus in cephalic presentation and spontaneous labor onset at ≥37 weeks' gestation were eligible. Inclusion occurred when the active phase could be clinically established by labor ward staff. Cervical dilatation was clinically examined. Fetal head position and subsequent rotation were determined using both transabdominal and transperineal ultrasound. Occiput positions were marked on a clockface graph with 24 half-hour divisions and categorized into occiput anterior (≥10- and ≤2-o'clock positions), left occiput transverse (>2- and <4-o'clock positions), occiput posterior (≥4- and ≤8 o'clock positions), and right occiput transverse positions (>8- and <10-o'clock positions). Head descent was measured with ultrasound as head-perineum distance and angle of progression. Clinical vaginal and ultrasound examinations were performed by separate examiners not revealing the results to each other., Results: We followed the fetal head rotation relative to the initial position in the pelvis in 99 women, of whom 75 delivered spontaneously, 16 with instrumental assistance, and 8 needed cesarean delivery. At inclusion, the cervix was dilated 4 cm in 26 women, 5 cm in 30 women, and ≥6 cm in 43 women. Furthermore, 4 women were examined once, 93 women twice, 60 women 3 times, 47 women 4 times, 20 women 5 times, 15 women 6 times, and 3 women 8 times. Occiput posterior was the most frequent position at the first examination (52 of 99), but of those classified as posterior, most were at 4- or 8-o'clock position. Occiput posterior positions persisted in >50% of cases throughout the first stage of labor but were anterior in 53 of 80 women (66%) examined by and after full dilatation. The occiput position was anterior in 75% of cases at a head-perineum distance of ≤30 mm and in 73% of cases at an angle of progression of ≥125° (corresponding to a clinical station of +1). All initial occiput anterior (19), 77% of occiput posterior (40 of 52), and 93% of occiput transverse positions (26 of 28) were thereafter delivered in an occiput anterior position. In 6 cases, the fetal head had rotated over the 6-o'clock position from an occiput posterior or transverse position, resulting in a rotation of >180°. In addition, 6 of the 8 women ending with cesarean delivery had the fetus in occiput posterior position throughout the active phase of labor., Conclusion: We investigated the rotation of the fetal head in the active phase of labor in nulliparous women in spontaneous labor at term, using ultrasound to provide accurate and objective results. The occiput posterior position was the most common fetal position throughout the active phase of the first stage of labor. Occiput anterior only became the most frequent position at full dilatation and after the head had descended below the midpelvic plane., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Ultrasound measurements offer objective and reproducible methods to measure the fetal head station. Before these methods can be applied to assess labor progression, the fetal head descent needs to be evaluated longitudinally in well-defined populations and compared with the existing data derived from clinical examinations., Objective: This study aimed to use ultrasound measurements to describe the fetal head descent longitudinally as labor progressed through the active phase in nulliparous women with spontaneous onset of labor., Study Design: This was a single center, prospective cohort study at the Landspitali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland, from January 2016 to April 2018. Nulliparous women with a single fetus in cephalic presentation and spontaneous labor onset at a gestational age of ≥37 weeks, were eligible. Participant inclusion occurred during admission for women with an established active phase of labor or at the start of the active phase for women admitted during the latent phase. The active phase was defined as an effaced cervix dilated to at least 4 cm in women with regular contractions. According to the clinical protocol, vaginal examinations were done at entry and subsequently throughout labor, paired each time with a transperineal ultrasound examination by a separate examiner, with both examiners being blinded to the other's results. The measurements used to assess the fetal head station were the head-perineum distance and angle of progression. Cervical dilatation was examined clinically., Results: The study population comprised 99 women. The labor patterns for the head-perineum distance, angle of progression, and cervical dilatation differentiated the participants into 75 with spontaneous deliveries, 16 with instrumental vaginal deliveries, and 8 cesarean deliveries. At the inclusion stage, the cervix was dilated 4 cm in 26 of the women, 5 cm in 30 of the women, and ≥6 cm in 43 women. One cesarean and 1 ventouse delivery were performed for fetal distress, whereas the remaining cesarean deliveries were conducted because of a failure to progress. The total number of examinations conducted throughout the study was 345, with an average of 3.6 per woman. The ultrasound-measured fetal head station both at the first and last examination were associated with the delivery mode and remaining time of labor. In spontaneous deliveries, rapid head descent started around 4 hours before birth, the descent being more gradual in instrumental deliveries and absent in cesarean deliveries. A head-perineum distance of 30 mm and angle of progression of 125° separately predicted delivery within 3.0 hours (95% confidence interval, 2.5-3.8 hours and 2.4-3.7 hours, respectively) in women delivering vaginally. Although the head-perineum distance and angle of progression are independent methods, both methods gave similar mirror image patterns. The fetal head station at the first examination was highest for the fetuses in occiput posterior position, but the pattern of rapid descent was similar for all initial positions in spontaneously delivering women. Oxytocin augmentation was used in 41% of women; in these labors a slower descent was noted. Descent was only slightly slower in the 62% of women who received epidural analgesia. A nonlinear relationship was observed between the fetal head station and dilatation., Conclusion: We have established the ultrasound-measured descent patterns for nulliparous women in spontaneous labor. The patterns resemble previously published patterns based on clinical vaginal examinations. The ultrasound-measured fetal head station was associated with the delivery mode and remaining time of labor., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: To accommodate passage through the birth canal, the fetal skull is compressed and reshaped, a phenomenon known as molding. The fetal skull bones are separated by membranous sutures that facilitate compression and overlap, resulting in a reduced diameter. This increases the probability of a successful vaginal delivery. Fetal position, presentation, station, and attitude can be examined with ultrasound, but fetal head molding has not been previously studied with ultrasound., Objective: This study aimed to describe ultrasound-assessed fetal head molding in a population of nulliparous women with slow progress in the second stage of labor and to study associations with fetal position and delivery mode., Study Design: This was a secondary analysis of a population comprising 150 nulliparous women with a single fetus in cephalic presentation, with slow progress in the active second stage with pushing. Women were eligible for the study when an operative intervention was considered by the clinician. Molding was examined in stored transperineal two-dimensional and three-dimensional acquisitions and differentiated into occipitoparietal molding along the lambdoidal sutures, frontoparietal molding along the coronal sutures, and parietoparietal molding at the sagittal suture (molding in the midline). Molding could not be classified if positions were unknown, and these cases were excluded. We measured the distance from the molding to the head midline, molding step, and overlap of skull bones and looked for associations with fetal position and delivery mode. The responsible clinicians were blinded to the ultrasound findings., Results: Six cases with unknown position were excluded, leaving 144 women in the study population. Fetal position was anterior in 117 cases, transverse in 12 cases, and posterior in 15 cases. Molding was observed in 79 of 144 (55%) fetuses. Molding was seen significantly more often in occiput anterior positions than in non-occiput anterior positions (69 of 117 [59%] vs 10 of 27 [37%]; P=.04). In occiput anterior positions, the molding was seen as occipitoparietal molding in 68 of 69 cases and as parietoparietal molding in 1 case with deflexed attitude. Molding was seen in 19 of 38 (50%) of occiput anterior positions ending with spontaneous delivery, 42 of 71(59%) ending with vacuum extraction, and in 7 of 8 (88%) with failed vacuum extraction (P=.13). In 4 fetuses with occiput posterior positions, parietoparietal molding was diagnosed, and successful vacuum extraction occurred in 3 cases and failed extraction in 1. Frontoparietal molding was seen in 2 transverse positions and 4 posterior positions. One delivered spontaneously; vacuum extraction failed in 3 cases and was successful in 2. Only 1 of 11 fetuses with either parietoparietal or frontoparietal molding was delivered spontaneously., Conclusion: The different types of molding can be classified with ultrasound. Occipitoparietal molding was commonly seen in occiput anterior positions and not significantly associated with delivery mode. Frontoparietal and parietoparietal moldings were less frequent than reported in old studies and should be studied in larger populations with mixed ethnicities., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate labour duration in different phases of labour when adhering to Zhang's guideline for labour progression compared with the WHO partograph., Design: A secondary analysis of a cluster randomised controlled trial., Setting: Fourteen Norwegian birth care units, each with more than 500 deliveries per year constituted the clusters., Participants: A total of 7277 nulliparous women with singleton foetus in a cephalic presentation and spontaneous onset of labour at term were included., Intervention: Seven clusters were randomised to the intervention group that adhered to Zhang's guideline (n = 3972) and seven to the control group that adhered to the WHO partograph (n = 3305) for labour progression., Measurements: The duration of labour from the first registration of cervical dilatation (≥ 4 cm) to the delivery of the baby and the duration of the first and second stages of labour; the time-to-event analysis was used to compare the duration of labour between the two groups after adjusting for baseline covariates., Findings: The adjusted median duration of labour was 7.0 h in the Zhang group, compared with 6.2 h in the WHO group; the median difference was 0.84 h with 95% confidence interval [CI] (0.2-1.5). The adjusted median duration of the first stage was 5.6 h in the Zhang group compared with 4.9 h in the WHO group; the median difference was 0.66 h with 95% CI (0.1-1.2). The corresponding adjusted median duration of the second stage was 88 and 77 min; the median difference was 0.18 h with 95% CI (0.1-0.3)., Key Conclusions: The women who adhered to Zhang's guideline had longer overall duration and duration of the first and second stages of labour than women who adhered to the WHO partograph., Implications for Practice: Understanding the variations in the duration of labour is of great importance, and the results offer useful insights into the different labour progression guidelines, which can inform clinical practice., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: A decrease of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) was observed after preventive interventions were implemented at a Norwegian university hospital. The aim was to investigate whether the improvement had sustained over the following years., Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 18 258 singleton vaginal cephalic births, ≥37 + 0 weeks of gestation during 2012-2017, examining data from the hospital's birth journals and separate registration forms. Interventions to prevent OASIS were implemented in 2011, and training in practical skills was repeated each year., Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome was OASIS (n = 377)., Results: Frequency of OASIS overall decreased from 3.6% prior to 2011 to 2.1% after the intervention and sustained at that level throughout the study period. A trend of fewer OASIS among spontaneous deliveries, decreasing from 2.1% to 1.2% (p = 0.01) was observed, but no trend was seen for instrumental deliveries (p = 0.37), where the incidence fluctuated between 4.0% and 9.3% with an average of 6.5%. Primiparity, increased maternal age and increased fetal head circumference were associated with more OASIS in spontaneous deliveries. In instrumental deliveries, primiparity, occiput posterior position and increased fetal head circumference were associated with more OASIS, whilst episiotomy was associated with fewer OASIS., Conclusion: The incidence of obstetric anal sphincter injuries maintained at a similar level of around 2.1% during the six following years after introducing preventive interventions. Regularly repetition and practical training seemed to be effective., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To investigate if descent of the fetal head during active pushing is associated with duration of operative vaginal delivery, mode of delivery and neonatal outcome in nulliparous women with prolonged second stage of labor., Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of nulliparous women with prolonged second stage of labor, conducted between November 2013 and July 2016 in five European countries. Fetal head descent was measured using transperineal ultrasound. Head-perineum distance (HPD) was measured between contractions and on maximum contraction during active pushing, and the difference between these values (ΔHPD) was calculated. The main outcome was duration of operative vaginal delivery, estimated using survival analysis to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for vaginal delivery, with values > 1 indicating a shorter duration. HR was adjusted for prepregnancy body mass index, maternal age, induction of labor, augmentation with oxytocin and use of epidural analgesia. Pregnancies were grouped according to ΔHPD quartile, and delivery mode and neonatal outcome were compared between groups., Results: The study population comprised 204 women. Duration of vacuum extraction was shorter with increasing ΔHPD. Estimated mean duration was 10.0, 9.0, 8.8 and 7.5 min in pregnancies with ΔHPD in the first to fourth quartiles, respectively, and the adjusted HR for vaginal delivery, using increasing ΔHPD as a continuous variable, was 1.04 (95% CI, 1.01-1.08). Mean ΔHPD was 7 mm (range, -10 to 37 mm). ΔHPD was either negative or ≤ 2 mm in the lowest quartile. In this group, 7/50 (14%) pregnancies were delivered by Cesarean section, compared with 8/154 (5%) of those with ΔHPD > 2 mm (P < 0.05). There was no significant association between umbilical artery pH < 7.10 or 5-min Apgar score < 7 and ΔHPD quartile., Conclusion: Minimal or no fetal head descent during active pushing was associated with longer duration of operative vaginal delivery and higher frequency of Cesarean section in nulliparous women with prolonged second stage of labor. © 2019 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology., (© 2019 The Authors Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Introduction: This study aims to investigate the use of oxytocin augmentation during labor in nulliparous women following Zhang's guideline or the WHO partograph., Material and Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial in 14 birth-care units in Norway, randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which followed Zhang's guideline, or to the control group, which followed the WHO partograph, for labor progression. The participants were nulliparous women who had a singleton full-term fetus in a cephalic presentation and spontaneous onset of labor, denoted as group 1 in the Ten Group Classification System., Results: Between December 2014 and January 2017, 7277 participants were included. A total of 3219 women (44%) received augmentation with oxytocin during labor. Oxytocin was used in 1658 (42%) women in the Zhang group compared with 1561 (47%) women in the WHO group. The adjusted relative risk for augmentation with oxytocin was 0.98 (95% CI 0.84-1.15; P = .8) in the Zhang vs WHO group, with an adjusted risk difference of -0.8% (95% CI -7.8 to 6.1). The participants in the Zhang group were less likely to be augmented with oxytocin before reaching 6 cm of cervical dilatation (24%) compared with participants in the WHO group (28%), with an adjusted relative risk of 0.84 (95% CI 0.75-0.94; P = .003). Oxytocin was administered for almost 20 min longer in the Zhang group than in the WHO group, with an adjusted mean difference of 17.9 min (95% CI 2.7-33.1; P = .021). In addition, 19% of the women in the Zhang group and 23% in the WHO group received augmentation with oxytocin without being diagnosed with labor dystocia., Conclusions: Although no significant difference in the proportion of oxytocin augmentation was observed between the 2 study groups, there were differences in how oxytocin was used. Women in the Zhang group were less likely to receive oxytocin augmentation before 6 cm of cervical dilatation. The duration of augmentation with oxytocin was longer in the Zhang group than in the WHO group., (© 2019 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Background: There is an ongoing debate concerning which guidelines and monitoring tools are most beneficial for assessing labour progression, to help prevent use of intrapartum caesarean section (ICS). The WHO partograph has been used for decades with the assumption of a linear labour progression; however, in 2010, Zhang introduced a new guideline suggesting a more dynamic labour progression. We aimed to investigate whether the frequency of ICS use differed when adhering to the WHO partograph versus Zhang's guideline for labour progression., Methods: We did a multicentre, cluster-randomised controlled trial at obstetric units in Norway, and each site was required to deliver more than 500 fetuses per year to be eligible for inclusion. The participants were nulliparous women who had a singleton, full-term fetus with cephalic presentation, and who entered spontaneous active labour. The obstetric units were treated as clusters, and women treated within these clusters were all given the same treatment. We stratified these clusters by size and number of previous caesarean sections. The clusters containing the obstetric units were then randomly assigned (1:1) to the control group, which adhered to the WHO partograph, or to the intervention group, which adhered to Zhang's guideline. The randomisation was computer-generated and was done in the Unit of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway, and investigators in this unit had no further involvement in the trial. Our study design did not enable masking of participants or health-care providers, but the investigators who were analysing the data were masked to group allocation. The primary outcome was use of ICS during active labour (cervical dilatation of 4-10 cm) in all participating women. The Labour Progression Study (LaPS) is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02221427., Findings: Between Aug 1, 2014, and Sept 1, 2014, 14 clusters were enrolled in the LaPS trial, and on Sept 11, 2014, seven obstetric units were randomly assigned to the control group (adhering to the WHO partograph) and seven obstetric units were randomly assigned to the intervention group (adhering to Zhang's guideline). Between Dec 1, 2014, and Jan 31, 2017, 11 615 women were judged to be eligible for recruitment in the trial, which comprised 5421 (46·7%) women in the control group units and 6194 (53·3%) women in the intervention group units. In the control group, 2100 (38·7%) of 5421 women did not give signed consent to participate and 16 (0·3%) women abstained from participation. In the intervention group, 2181 (35·2%) of 6194 women did not give signed consent to participate and 41 (0·7%) women abstained from participation. 7277 (62·7%) of 11 615 eligible women were therefore included in the analysis of the primary endpoint. Of these women, 3305 (45·4%) participants were in an obstetric unit that was randomly assigned to the control group (adhering to the WHO partograph) and 3972 (54·6%) participants were in an obstetric unit that was randomly assigned to the intervention group (adhering to Zhang's guideline). No women dropped out during the trial. Before the start of the trial, ICS was used in 9·5% of deliveries in the control group obstetric units and in 9·3% of intervention group obstetric units. During our trial, there were 196 (5·9%) ICS deliveries in women in the control group (WHO partograph) and 271 (6·8%) ICS deliveries in women in the intervention group (Zhang's guideline), and the frequency of ICS use did not differ between the groups (adjusted relative risk 1·17, 95% CI 0·98-1·40; p=0·08; adjusted risk difference 1·00%, 95% CI -0·1 to 2·1). We identified no maternal or neonatal deaths during our study., Interpretation: We did not find any significant difference in the frequency of ICS use between the obstetric units assigned to adhere to the WHO partograph and those assigned to adhere to Zhang's guideline. The overall decrease in ICS use that we observed relative to the previous frequency of ICS use noted in these obstetric units might be explained by the close focus on assessing labour progression more than use of the guidelines. Our results represent an important contribution to the discussion on implementation of the new guideline., Funding: Østfold Hospital Trust., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: We aimed to examine the agreement between ultrasound and digital vaginal examination in assessing cervical dilatation in an African population and to assess the value of ultrasound in detecting active labor., Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a teaching hospital in Ghana between April and September of 2016. Anterior-posterior and transverse diameters of cervical dilatation were measured with ultrasound and the mean value was compared with digital vaginal examination in 195 women in labor. Agreement between methods was examined with correlation coefficients and with Bland-Altman plots. Active labor was defined when cervix was dilated ≥ 4 cm with vaginal examinations. ROC curve analysis was conducted on the diagnostic performance of ultrasound in detecting active labor., Results: Data were analyzed in 175 out of 195 (90%) cases where ultrasound could clearly visualize the cervix. The remaining 20 cases were all determined by digital vaginal examination as advanced cervical dilatation (≥ 8 cm), advanced head station (≥ + 2), and with ruptured membranes. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was 0.78 (95% CI 0.72-0.83) and the intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.76 (95% CI 0.69-0.81). Bland-Altman analysis obtained a mean difference of - 0.03 cm (95% CI - 0.18 to 0.12) with zero included in the CI intervals, indicating no significant difference between methods. Limits of agreement were from - 2.01 to 1.95 cm. Ultrasound predicted active labor with 0.87 (95% CI 0.75-0.99) as the area under the ROC curve., Conclusion: Ultrasound measurements showed good agreement with digital vaginal examinations in assessing cervical dilatation during labor and ultrasound may be used to detect active labor.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate fetal head rotation during vacuum extraction., Material and Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study from November 2013 to July 2016 in seven European hospitals. Fetal head position was determined with transabdominal or transperineal ultrasound and categorized as occiput anterior (OA), occiput transverse (OT) or occiput posterior (OP) position. Main outcome was the proportion of fetuses rotating during vacuum extraction. Secondary outcomes were conversion of delivery method, duration of vacuum extraction, umbilical artery pH <7.10 and agreement between clinical and ultrasound assessments., Results: The study population comprised 165 women. During vacuum extraction 117/119 (98%) remained in OA and two fetuses rotated to OP position. Rotation from OT to OA position occurred in 14/19 (74%) and to OP position in 5/19 (26%). Rotation from OP to OA position occurred in 15/25 (60%), and 10/25 (40%) fetuses remained in OP position. Delivery information was missing in two cases. The conversion rate from vacuum extraction to cesarean section or forceps was 10% in the OA group vs. 23% in the non-OA group; p < 0.05. The estimated duration of vacuum extraction was significantly shorter in OA fetuses, 7 min vs. 10 min (log rank test p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in umbilical artery pH < 7.10 between OA and non-OA position. Cohens Kappa of agreement between clinical and ultrasound assessments was 0.42 (95% CI 0.26-0.57)., Conclusion: Most fetuses in OP or OT positions rotated to OA position during vacuum extraction, but the proportion of failed vacuum extractions remained high., (© 2018 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Introduction: The primary aim of this study was to investigate midwives' and obstetricians' views on how many ultrasound examinations should be part of standard care during pregnancy in Norway., Material and Methods: This study is a part of a larger study, the CROss-Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS), an international investigation of midwives' and obstetricians' experiences of and views on the use of ultrasound. We distributed 400 questionnaires to respondents in all five health regions in Norway: 40 to municipal midwives, 180 to midwives working in hospitals and 180 to obstetricians. The questionnaire included specific questions about the appropriate number of examinations during pregnancy, examinations without medical indication, non-medical ultrasound, commercialisation and safety., Results: The response rate was 45%. Of the respondents, 58% reported satisfaction with the offer of one scheduled ultrasound examination during pregnancy, as recommended in the Norwegian guidelines. Health care professionals who used ultrasound themselves were significantly more likely to want to offer more ultrasound examinations: 52% of the ultrasound users wanted to offer two or more ultrasound examinations vs. 16% of the non-users (p < .01). The majority of obstetricians (80%) reported that pregnant women expect to undergo ultrasound examination, even in the absence of medical indication., Conclusion: The majority of Norwegian health care professionals participating in this study supported the national recommendation on ultrasound in pregnancy. Ultrasound users wanted to offer more ultrasound examinations during pregnancy, whereas non-users were generally content with the recommendation. The majority of respondents thought that commercialisation was not a problem at their institution, and reported that ultrasound is often performed without a medical indication. The ultrasound users thought that ultrasound is safe., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The aim was to investigate correlations between fetal weight gain/day and birthweight with blood flow estimates in the uterine arteries calculated with the PixelFlux technique and with measurements from TAmax. We also aimed to examine the agreement between estimates using the two methods., Material and Methods: We conducted a prospective observational pilot study in pregnancy week 24-25 in women with risk pregnancies referred to the fetal medical centre at St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway from March 2016 to June 2016. Blood flow in the uterine arteries was calculated using time-averaged peak velocity (TAmax) and the PixelFlux technique. PixelFlux is a method based on pixelwise calculation of spatially angle-corrected velocities and areas of all pixels inside a vessel during a heart cycle., Results: The mean flow calculated from PixelFlux and TAmax was 811 ml/minute and 787 ml/minute, respectively. The intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.83 (95% CI 0.72-0.90) and limits of agreement were -441 ml/minute (95% CI -558 to -324 ml/minute) to 489 ml/minute (95% CI 372 to 606 ml/minute). We observed a significant correlation between mean flow calculated from PixelFlux and birthweight (r=0.41; p<0.01) and between flow calculated from PixelFlux and weight gain/day (r=0.33; p=0.02). Calculation based on TAmax was significant correlated to birthweight (r=0.34; p=0.02), but not to weight-gain/day. Pulsatile index was not correlated to flow, birthweight or fetal weight-gain/day., Conclusions: We found significant correlations between estimated blood flow in the uterine arteries using the PixelFlux technique with fetal weight-gain/day and with birthweight. Estimates from two methods showed good agreement.

Introduction: We aimed to test the reproducibility of head-perineum distance (HPD) measurements using two different ultrasound devices and five examiners, to compare ultrasound measurements and clinical assessments and to study if ultrasound examinations were acceptable for women in labor., Material and Methods: A reproducibility study was performed at Lund University Hospital, Sweden and Landspitali University Hospital, Iceland from February 2015 to February 2017. The study population comprised 40 healthy women in labor. HPD was measured with three replicate measurements from each woman with two different ultrasound devices, and the measurements were compared with clinical assessments. Acceptability was tested with a visual analog scale (VAS), and the mean VAS score from both ultrasound devices was compared with the VAS score from clinical palpation., Results: The median time interval between start of examinations with devices was 10 min (range 1-26 min). The intra-observer repeatability coefficient was 4.3 mm and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.97 (95% CI 0.95-0.98). The intraclass correlation coefficient between the two devices was 0.86 (95% CI 0.74-0.93) and limits of agreement were -9.6 mm to 16.6 mm. However, we observed a significant mean HPD difference between devices (3.5 mm; 95% CI 1.4-5.6 mm). Clinical assessments and the mean measurements of HPD were correlated (r = 0.64, p < 0.01). We found significant differences in acceptability in favor of ultrasound. The mean VAS score for both ultrasound devices was 2.0 vs. 4.1 for clinical examination (p < 0.01)., Conclusion: We found excellent intra-observer repeatability, good correlation but significant difference between devices. Women reported less discomfort with ultrasound than with clinical examinations., (© 2017 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Background: The increasing rate of intrapartum cesarean sections is subject of attention and concern as it is associated with adverse outcomes. Labor dystocia is one of the most frequent indications for cesarean sections even though there is no consensus on criteria for labor dystocia. Traditionally the progression of labor follows guidelines based on Friedman's curve from the mid 1950s. In 2010 Zhang presented a new labor curve and a dynamic guideline for labor progression based on contemporary research. The main aim of this trial is to evaluate whether adhering to Zhang's guideline for labor progression, changes the intrapartum cesarean section rate in nulliparous women without jeopardising maternal and neonatal outcomes compared to a traditional guide line called the 4-h action line based on Friedman's curve., Methods/design: A multicenter cluster randomized trial including 14 birth care units in Norway is conducted. Seven units are randomized to use the 4-h action line guideline for labor progression and seven units are randomized to use Zhang's new dynamic guideline for labor progression, for all nulliparous women with a singleton fetus in a cephalic presentation and spontaneous onset of labor at term. Clinical outcomes are compared between the groups. The determination of the sample size (number of clusters and individuals) is based on a power calculation of intrapartum cesarean section, which is 9.2% in the study population (p1). Further, we expect that the intrapartum cesarean section rate will be 6.7% (p2) which is a 25% reduction, when using the new guideline. With a chosen significance level of 0.05, a power of 80% and p1 = 9.2% and p2 = 6.9%, we should include at least 14 clusters and 6582 individuals., Discussion: Clinical consequences when using the guideline by Zhang have, to the best of our knowledge, not been investigated earlier. The results will provide a strong basis to make a qualified decision on whether it is beneficial to introduce a dynamic labor progression curve in contemporary obstetrics both nationally and internationally., Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials, NCT02221427.

Aims and Objectives: To examine whether interprofessional simulation training on management of postpartum haemorrhage enhances self-efficacy and collective efficacy and reduces the blood transfusion rate after birth., Background: Postpartum haemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, although it is preventable in most cases. Interprofessional simulation training might help improve the competence of health professionals dealing with postpartum haemorrhage, and more information is needed to determine its potential., Design: Multimethod, quasi-experimental, pre-post intervention design., Methods: Interprofessional simulation training on postpartum haemorrhage was implemented for midwives, obstetricians and auxiliary nurses in a university hospital. Training included realistic scenarios and debriefing, and a measurement scale for perceived postpartum haemorrhage-specific self-efficacy, and collective efficacy was developed and implemented. Red blood cell transfusion was used as the dependent variable for improved patient outcome pre-post intervention., Results: Self-efficacy and collective efficacy levels were significantly increased after training. The overall red blood cell transfusion rate did not change, but there was a significant reduction in the use of ≥5 units of blood products related to severe bleeding after birth., Conclusion: The study contributes to new knowledge on how simulation training through mastery and vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion and psychophysiological state might enhance postpartum haemorrhage-specific self-efficacy and collective efficacy levels and thereby predict team performance. The significant reduction in severe postpartum haemorrhage after training, indicated by reduction in ≥5 units of blood transfusions, corresponds well with the improvement in collective efficacy, and might reflect the emphasis on collective efforts to counteract severe cases of postpartum haemorrhage., Relevance to Clinical Practice: Interprofessional simulation training in teams may contribute to enhanced prevention and management of postpartum haemorrhage, shown by a significant increase in perceived efficacy levels combined with an indicated reduction of severe postpartum haemorrhage after training., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Tanzania has a relatively high maternal mortality ratio of 410 per 100,000 live births. Severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a major cause of maternal deaths, but in most cases, it is preventable. However, most pregnant women that develop PPH, have no known risk factors. Therefore, preventive measures must be offered to all pregnant women. This study investigated the effects of multi-professional, scenario-based training on the prevention and management of PPH at a Tanzanian zonal consultant hospital. We hypothesized that scenario-based training could contribute to improved competence on PPH-management, which would result in improved team efficiency and patient outcome., Methods: This quasi-experimental, pre-vs. post-interventional study involved on-site multi-professional, scenario-based PPH training, conducted in a two-week period in October 2013 and another 2 weeks in November 2014. Training teams included nurses, midwives, doctors, and medical attendants in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. After technical skill training on the birthing simulator MamaNatalie®, the teams practiced in realistic scenarios on PPH. Each scenario was followed by debriefing and repeated scenario. Afterwards, the group swapped roles and the observers became the participants. To evaluate the effects of training, we measured patient outcomes by determining blood transfusion rates. Patient data were collected by randomly sampling Medical birth registry files from the pre-training and post-training study periods (n = 1667 and 1641 files, respectively). Data were analyzed with the Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and binary logistic regression., Results: The random patient samples (n = 3308) showed that, compared to pre-training, post-training patients had a 47% drop in whole blood transfusion rates and significant increases in cesarean section rates, birth weights, and vacuum deliveries. The logistic regression analysis showed that transfusion rates were significantly associated with the time period (pre- vs. post-training), cesarean section, patients tranferred from other hospitals, maternal age, and female genital mutilation and cutting., Conclusions: We found that multi-professional, scenario-based training was associated with a significant, 47% reduction in whole blood transfusion rates. These results suggested that training that included all levels of maternity staff, repeated sessions with realistic scenarios, and debriefing may have contributed to reduced blood transfusion rates in this high-risk maternity setting.

Purpose: To investigate the variability of the normal-sized fetal renal pelvis (≤5 mm) over time and to analyze repeatability of measurements., Materials and Methods: 98 fetal renal pelvises and 49 fetal urinary bladders were analyzed at a gestational age of 17-20 weeks at St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. The anterior-posterior diameter (APD) of the fetal renal pelvis and two diameters of the fetal bladder were measured with an interval of at least 30 min. Intra- and interobserver variations and variations over time and in association with bladder size were investigated., Results: The mean difference in renal pelvis size between the first and second measurements was 0.09 mm (95% CI, -0.09 to 0.26 mm). The variation over time was ≤1 mm in 85% of cases and the renal pelvis was ≤4 mm in both the first and second examinations in 92% of cases. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.54 (95% CI: 0.31 to 0.69). We did not observe any association between variation of bladder size and variation of APD. The difference in fetal renal pelvis size was ≤1 mm in 70% of observations for the first examiner and 58% for the second examiner. The intraobserver ICCs were 0.71 (95% CI: 0.62-0.78) and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.50-0.70) for the two observers respectively. The interobserver difference was ≤1 mm in 72% of cases and the interobserver ICC was 0.56 (95% CI: 0.34-0.71)., Conclusion: The variation of the APD of the fetal renal pelvis over time was small in fetuses with the APD in the lower range and can mainly be explained by intraobserver variation.

Objectives: Internationally, the 10-Group Classification System (TGCS) has been used to report caesarean section rates, but analysis of other outcomes is also recommended. We now aim to present the TGCS as a method to assess outcomes of labour and delivery using routine collection of perinatal information., Design: This research is a methodological study to describe the use of the TGCS., Setting: Stavanger University Hospital (SUH), Norway, National Maternity Hospital Dublin, Ireland and Slovenian National Perinatal Database (SLO), Slovenia., Participants: 9848 women from SUH, Norway, 9250 women from National Maternity Hospital Dublin, Ireland and 106 167 women, from SLO, Slovenia., Main Outcome Measures: All women were classified according to the TGCS within which caesarean section, oxytocin augmentation, epidural analgesia, operative vaginal deliveries, episiotomy, sphincter rupture, postpartum haemorrhage, blood transfusion, maternal age >35 years, body mass index >30, Apgar score, umbilical cord pH, hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, antepartum and perinatal deaths were incorporated., Results: There were significant differences in the sizes of the groups of women and the incidences of events and outcomes within the TGCS between the three perinatal databases., Conclusions: The TGCS is a standardised objective classification system where events and outcomes of labour and delivery can be incorporated. Obstetric core events and outcomes should be agreed and defined to set standards of care. This method provides continuous and available observations from delivery wards, possibly used for further interpretation, questions and international comparisons. The definition of quality may vary in different units and can only be ascertained when all the necessary information is available and considered together., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Background: Safe management of the second stage of labor is of great importance. Unnecessary interventions should be avoided and correct timing of interventions should be focused. Ultrasound assessment of fetal position and station has a potential to improve the precision in diagnosing and managing prolonged or arrested labors. The decision to perform vacuum delivery is traditionally based on subjective assessment by digital vaginal examination and clinical expertise and there is currently no method of objectively quantifying the likelihood of successful delivery. Prolonged attempts at vacuum delivery are associated with neonatal morbidity and maternal trauma, especially so if the procedure is unsuccessful and a cesarean is performed., Objective: The aim of the study was to assess if ultrasound measurements of fetal position and station can predict duration of vacuum extractions, mode of delivery, and fetal outcome in nulliparous women with prolonged second stage of labor., Study Design: We performed a prospective cohort study in nulliparous women at term with prolonged second stage of labor in 7 European maternity units from 2013 through 2016. Fetal head position and station were determined using transabdominal and transperineal ultrasound, respectively. Our preliminary clinical experience assessing head-perineum distance prior to vacuum delivery suggested that we should set 25 mm for the power calculation, a level corresponding roughly to +2 below the ischial spines. The main outcome was duration of vacuum extraction in relation to ultrasound measured head-perineum distance with a predefined cut-off of 25 mm, and 220 women were needed to discriminate between groups using a hazard ratio of 1.5 with 80% power and alpha 5%. Secondary outcomes were delivery mode and umbilical artery cord blood samples after birth. The time interval was evaluated using survival analyses, and the outcomes of delivery were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and descriptive statistics. Results were analyzed according to intention to treat., Results: The study population comprised 222 women. The duration of vacuum extraction was shorter in women with head-perineum distance ≤25 mm (log rank test <0.01). The estimated median duration in women with head-perineum distance ≤25 mm was 6.0 (95% confidence interval, 5.2-6.8) minutes vs 8.0 (95% confidence interval, 7.1-8.9) minutes in women with head-perineum distance >25 mm. The head-perineum distance was associated with spontaneous delivery with area under the curve 83% (95% confidence interval, 77-89%) and associated with cesarean with area under the curve 83% (95% confidence interval, 74-92%). In women with head-perineum distance ≤35 mm, 7/181 (3.9%) were delivered by cesarean vs 9/41 (22.0%) in women with head-perineum distance >35 mm (P <.01). Ultrasound-assessed position was occiput anterior in 73%. Only 3/138 (2.2%) fetuses in occiput anterior position and head-perineum distance ≤35 mm vs 6/17 (35.3%) with nonocciput anterior position and head-perineum distance >35 mm were delivered by cesarean. Umbilical cord arterial pH <7.10 occurred in 2/144 (1.4%) women with head-perineum distance ≤35 mm compared to 8/40 (20.0%) with head-perineum distance >35 mm (P < .01)., Conclusion: Ultrasound has the potential to predict labor outcome in women with prolonged second stage of labor. The information obtained could guide whether vacuum delivery should be attempted or if cesarean is preferable, whether senior staff should be in attendance, and if the vacuum attempt should be performed in the operating theater., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the accuracy of estimating fetal weight with ultrasound in pregnancies past term, using the eSnurra algorithm., Material and Methods: In all, 419 women with pregnancy length of 290 days, attending a specialist consultation at Stavanger University Hospital, Norway, were included in a prospective observational study. Fetal weight was estimated using biparietal diameter (BPD) and abdominal circumference (AC). The algorithm implemented in an electronic calculation (eSnurra) was used to compute estimated fetal weight (EFW). Results were compared with birthweight (BW)., Results: The mean interval between the ultrasound examination and birth was 2 days (SD 1.4). The median difference between BW and EFW was -6 g (CI -40 to +25 g) and the median percentage error was -0.1% (95% CI -1.0 to 0.6%). The median absolute difference was 190 g (95% CI 170-207 g). The BW was within 10% of EFW in 83% (95% CI 79-87%) of cases and within 15% of EFW in 94% (95% CI 92-96%) of cases. Limits of agreement (95%) were from -553 g to +556 g. Using 5% false-positive rates, the sensitivity in detecting macrosomic and small for gestational age fetuses was 54% (95% CI 35-72%) and 49% (95% CI 35-63%), respectively., Conclusion: The accuracy of fetal weight estimation was good. Clinicians should be aware of limitations related to prediction at the upper and lower end, and the importance of choosing appropriate cut-off levels., (© 2016 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Introduction: The aim of the study was to compare the duration of active phase of labor in women with spontaneous or induced start of labor., Material and Methods: An observational cohort study was performed at Stavanger University Hospital in Norway between January 2010 and December 2013. During the study period 19 524 women delivered. Data for the study were collected from an electronic birth journal. Women with previous cesarean section, multiple pregnancy, breech or transverse lie, preterm labor or prelabor cesarean section were excluded. Analyses were stratified between nulliparous and parous women. Active phase of labor was defined when contractions were regular, with cervix effaced and dilated 4 cm. The main outcome measure was duration of active phase of labor., Results: The active phase was longer in induced labors than in labors with spontaneous onset in nulliparous women. The estimated median duration using survival analyses was 433 min (95% confidence interval 419-446) in spontaneous vs. 541 min (95% confidence interval 502-580) in induced labors [unadjusted hazard ratio 0.76 (95% confidence interval 0.71-0.82) and adjusted hazard ratio 0.88 (95% confidence interval 0.82-0.95)]. In parous women, a one minus survival plot showed that induced labors had shorter duration before six hours in active labor, but after six hours, induced labors had longer duration. The overall difference in parous women was small and probably of little clinical importance., Conclusion: The active phase of labor was longer in induced than in spontaneous labors in nulliparous women., (© 2016 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)