Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To compare outcomes between women receiving epidural anesthesia assigned to a group following either a 1-hour “delayed” pushing protocol or directed to initiate pushing at full cervical dilation.
STUDY DESIGN:
Using a randomized, controlled design, multivariate analyses were used to evaluate second stage labor duration and Apgar scores. An estimated odds ratio equation evaluated fetal descent progress.
RESULTS:
A 13.68-minute difference occurred in second stage labor length (p = 0.225). No differences were found in Apgar scores (p > 0.09). An estimated odds ratio, that progress in terms of one fetal station unit would occur for control group subjects as compared with subjects with similar progress in the experimental group, was 1.51 (95% confidence interval: 1.16, 1.95).
CONCLUSION:
Second stage labor was not significantly lengthened, and a similar rate of fetal descent occurred in the absence of directed pushing. Findings support further research on the potential advantages of minimizing the duration of pushing in labor.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This project was funded by a Dean’s Initiative Grant from Nell HodgsonWoodruff School of Nursing, Emory University.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mayberry, L., Hammer, R., Kelly, C. et al. Use of Delayed Pushing with Epidural Anesthesia. J Perinatol 19, 26–30 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7200076
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7200076