British journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
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Br J Obstet Gynaecol · May 1997
Blood pressure and fetal heart rate changes with patient-controlled combined spinal epidural analgesia while ambulating in labour.
To determine the effect of patient-controlled combined spinal epidural analgesia (PCEA) on maternal pulse and blood pressure, and fetal heart rate in primigravid women, when adapting different positions in labour. ⋯ Patient-controlled epidural analgesia top-ups with maternal mobility may be beneficial to the fetus possibly by reducing the hypotension normally associated with top-ups in the lying position.
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Br J Obstet Gynaecol · Apr 1997
Fetal size and growth velocity in the prediction of intrapartum caesarean section for fetal distress.
To evaluate and compare third trimester ultrasound measurements of fetal size and growth velocity in the prediction of intrapartum operative delivery for fetal distress and admission to the special care baby unit in a low risk antenatal population undergoing labour at term. ⋯ Growth velocity of the fetal abdominal area in the third trimester is superior to a single measurement of the fetal abdominal area at either a mean of 32 or 36 weeks of gestation in the prediction of caesarean section for fetal distress and admission to the special care baby unit in low-risk women labouring at term. These results support the hypothesis that in the third trimester at least, growth rate in utero is more relevant to intrapartum performance and immediate perinatal outcome than estimates of fetal size alone.
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Br J Obstet Gynaecol · Feb 1997
ReviewTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in labour pain: a systematic review.
To review the effectiveness and safety of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for labour pain. ⋯ Randomised controlled trials provide no compelling evidence for TENS having any analgesic effect during labour. Weak positive effects in secondary (analgesic sparing) and tertiary (choosing TENS for future labours) outcomes may be due to inadequate blinding causing overestimation of treatment effects.
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Br J Obstet Gynaecol · Nov 1996
A longitudinal study of risk factors for the occurrence, duration and severity of menstrual cramps in a cohort of college women.
To describe how menstrual cramps vary from cycle to cycle within a woman over time. To examine the influence of weight and lifestyle factors on occurrence, duration, and severity of menstrual pain. ⋯ Women who have pain lasting three days are an important target group for prophylactic therapy. The occurrence and severity of menstrual cramps is influenced by potentially modifiable characteristics including weight, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Doctors may wish to counsel women presenting with dysmenorrhoea about the importance of healthy lifestyles and about the inefficacy of alcohol consumption as a treatment for dysmenorrhoea.