Objective To evaluate the association between pain intensity in the active phase of the first stage of labor with the use or not of nonpharmacological methods for pain relief in a real-life scenario. Methods This was an observational cross-sectional study. The variables analyzed were obtained by a questionnaire with the mothers (up to 48 hours postpartum) to investigate the intensity of pain during labor using the visual analog scale (VAS). The nonpharmacological pain relief methods routinely used in obstetric practice were evaluated by consulting medical records. The patients were separated into two groups: Group I – patients who did not use nonpharmacological methods for pain relief and Group II –patients who used these methods. Results A total of 439 women who underwent vaginal delivery were included; 386 (87.9%) used at least 1 nonpharmacological method and 53 (12.1%) did not. The women who did not use nonpharmacological methods had significantly lower gestational age (37.2 versus 39.6 weeks, p < 0.001) and shorter duration of labor (24 versus 114 min, p < 0.001) than those who used the methods. There was no statistically significant difference in the pain scale score using the VAS between the group that used nonpharmacological methods and the group that did not (median 10 [minimum 2–maximum 10] versus 10 [minimum 6–maximum 10] p = 0.334). Conclusion In a real-life setting, there was no difference in labor pain intensity between the patients who used nonpharmacological methods and those who did not use them during the active phase of labor.

OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between the number of prenatal care visits and the occurrence of adverse perinatal outcomes in an average city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: This was a prospective and observational study. The variables analyzed were obtained through a questionnaire administered to postpartum women (between 1 and 48 h postpartum) and information contained in prenatal cards. The pregnant women were classified into three groups: Group I, <3 prenatal care visits; Group II, 3-5 prenatal care visits; and Group III, ≥6 prenatal care visits. RESULTS: Group I had a lower median weight (57.0 vs. 64.0 kg, p<0.001), body mass index (22.1 vs. 24.3 kg/m 2 , p<0.001), and weight gain (9.0 vs. 12 kg, p=0.002) than Group III. The prevalence of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (11.6 vs. 4.2%, p=0.02) and the newborn mortality rate within the first 72 h of life (2.3 vs. 0%, p<0.001) were higher in Group I than in Group III. Group II had a higher prevalence of admission to the adult intensive care unit (5.7 vs. 0.6%, p<0.001) and a higher newborn mortality rate within the first 72 h of life (1.6% vs. 0%, p<0.001) than Group III. CONCLUSIONS: Having ≥6 prenatal care visits was associated with lower rates of admission to the neonatal and adult intensive care unit, as well as a lower newborn mortality rate within the first 72 h of life.

OBJECTIVE:The main aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of using interventions in low-and high-risk parturients on maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes during labor. METHODS: This is a prospective study. The analyzed variables were obtained through a questionnaire with puerperal women (between 1-and 48-h postpartum) and through medical record searches. The study population was divided into two groups as follows: Group I included parturients who underwent at least one type of obstetric intervention and Group II included parturients who did not undergo any type of obstetric intervention. RESULTS: Most parturients (75.3%) underwent at least one type of intervention, with oxytocin being the most prevalent intervention (49.5%), followed by misoprostol use (28.7%), elective cesarean section at the request of the patient (23.0%), amniotomy (21.2%), and episiotomy (21.0%). Regarding the adverse perinatal outcomes related to low-risk pregnancies, the prevalence of the second-or third-degree perineal tears (17.8% vs. 36.7%, p=0.001) was lower in Group I than in Group II. Moreover, in high-risk pregnancies, the prevalence of hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (2.8% vs. 16.7%, p<0.001), adult intensive care unit admission (0.8% vs. 3.9%, p=0.004), and the need for oxygen therapy (26.8% vs. 40.4%, p<0.001) was lower in Group I than in Group II. CONCLUSIONS: In low-risk parturients, the interventions performed were associated with lower prevalence of second-or third-degree perineal tears. There was a lower prevalence of neonatal and adult intensive care unit admissions, the need for oxygen therapy, intracranial hemorrhage, and neonatal infection among high-risk parturients.

A pandemia de SARS-CoV-2 acarreta impactos à saúde ainda desconhecidos e que são objetivos de estudos. Dentre esses, estão a forma como a COVID-19 se manifesta em gestantes e puérperas, quais os desfechos neonatais e qual o perfil epidemiológico dessas mulheres. Para tanto foi conduzida uma Revisão integrativa da literatura nas bases de dados PubMed. Os descritores utilizados para delimitar as buscas foram gravidez, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19. Assim sendo, 27 artigos foram selecionados ao final das buscas. Sendo 92,6% deles publicados ano de 2020, com relação ao país de origem de realização dos estudos o mais prevalente com 8 (29,62%) artigos, foram os Estados Unidos. Evidências apontam que há relações entre maior necessidade de internação em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva e uso de suporte ventilatório entre gestantes com COVID-19. A gestação parece estar relacionada com formas severas da doença, porém, existem outros fatores influenciadores, como obesidade e diabetes mellitus. Houve maior proporção de gestantes negras e latinas entre as afetadas, com aparente aumento no risco de morte entre as latinas. Também, notou-se um aumento nos partos pré-termo quando da forma severa. Dessa forma, fica evidente que há uma relação entre a chance de agravamento da COVID-19 entre gestantes com SARS-CoV-2, em especial as sintomáticas e com comorbidades. Além disso, aumento da taxa de partos pré-termo com a forma severa. Assim, adotar medidas de prevenção e vacinação entre essa população se mostra como as principais formas de evitar agravamentos, partos pré-termo e óbitos.