Study the rate of progress of labor among nulliparous women belonging to different body mass index groups, \& observe how does this variation in maternal body mass index may affect the course of labor.
For nulliparous cases presenting to the labor ward, maternal height \& weight will be collected at the time of admission to calculate the BMI (body mass index) \& further classified according to WHO (World Health Organization) categories. Putting into consideration the physiological increase in BMI related to pregnancy, the overweight participants whose BMI (25-29.9) will be combined with the normal range BMI (18.5-24.9) category. Labor characteristics of these participants will be then compared with those of the underweight (BMI less than 18.5) \& obese (BMI 30 or higher) participants.Females are assigned in one of 3 groups based on their BMI; Underweight group (BMI \<18.5kg/m2), Control group whose BMI within normal range (18.5-29.9 kg/m2),\& Obese group (BMI more than or equal 30kg/m2). Labor management protocols are fixed. Data on labor progression are collected, including cervical dilatation, cervical effacement, head station \& descent. The median duration of labor , estimated by rate of cervical dilatation in cm, will be used as a measurement of labor progression in each group. A cesarean section for abnormal labor pattern will be documented as failure of progress.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
600
Cairo University
Cairo, Greater Cairo, Egypt
rate of cervical dilatation
in centimeters
Time frame: every 2 hours during active phase of labor, from admission to the labor ward until second stage of labor.
descent of fetal head
head station
Time frame: every 2 hours during active phase of labor, from admission to the labor ward until second stage of labor
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