BackgroundAs a quality marker and a tool for benchmarking between units, a visual analogue scale (VAS) (ranging from 1 to 10) to estimate woman’s satisfaction with childbirth was introduced in 2014. This study aimed to assess how obstetric interventions and complications affected women’s satisfaction with childbirth.MethodsA retrospective cohort study including 16,775 women with an available VAS score who gave birth between January 2016 and December 2017. VAS score, maternal and obstetric characteristics were obtained from electronic medical records and crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were calculated.ResultsThe total prevalence of dissatisfaction with childbirth (VAS 1–3) was 5.7%. The main risk factors for dissatisfaction with childbirth were emergency cesarean section, aOR 3.98 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.27–4.86, postpartum hemorrhage ≥2000 ml, aOR 1.85 95%CI 1.24–2.76 and Apgar score < 7 at five minutes, aOR 2.95 95%CI 1.95–4.47. The amount of postpartum hemorrhage showed a dose-response relation to dissatisfaction with childbirth. Moreover, labor induction, instrumental vaginal delivery, and obstetric anal sphincter injury were significantly associated with women’s dissatisfaction with childbirth. A total number of 4429/21204 (21%) women giving birth during the study period had missing values on VAS. A comparison of characteristics between women with and without a recorded VAS score was performed. There were statistically significant differences in maternal age and maternal BMI between the study population and excluded women due to missing values on VAS. Moreover, 64% of the women excluded were multiparas, compared to 59% in the study population.ConclusionsObstetric interventions and complications, including emergency cesareans section and postpartum hemorrhage, were significantly related to dissatisfaction with childbirth.Such events are common and awareness of these associations might lead to a more individualized care of women during and after childbirth.

BackgroundTo assess the impact of 10 years of simulation-based shoulder dystocia training on clinical outcomes, staff confidence, management, and to scrutinize the characteristics of the pedagogical practice of the simulation training.MethodsIn 2008, a simulation-based team-training program (PROBE) was introduced at a medium sized delivery unit in Linköping, Sweden. Data concerning maternal characteristics, management, and obstetric outcomes was compared between three groups; prePROBE (before PROBE was introduced, 2004–2007), early postPROBE (2008–2011) and late postPROBE (2012–2015). Staff responded to an electronic questionnaire, which included questions about self-confidence and perceived sense of security in acute obstetrical situations. Empirical data from the pedagogical practice was gathered through observational field notes of video-recordings of maternity care teams participating in simulation exercises and was further analyzed using collaborative video analysis.ResultsThe number of diagnosed shoulder dystocia increased from 0.9/1000 prePROBE to 1.8 and 2.5/1000 postPROBE. There were no differences in maternal characteristics between the groups. The rate of brachial plexus injuries in deliveries complicated with shoulder dystocia was 73% prePROBE compared to 17% in the late postPROBE group (p > 0.05). The dominant maneuver to solve the shoulder dystocia changed from posterior arm extraction to internal rotation of the anterior shoulder between the pre and postPROBE groups. The staff questionnaire showed how the majority of the staff (48–62%) felt more confident when handling a shoulder dystocia after PROBE training. A model of facilitating relational reflection adopted seems to provide ways of keeping the collaboration and learning in the interprofessional team clearly focused.ConclusionsTo introduce and sustain a shoulder dystocia training program for delivery staff improved clinical outcome. The impaired management and outcome of this rare, emergent and unexpectedly event might be explained by the learning effect in the debriefing model, clearly focused on the team and related to daily clinical practice.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12884-018-2001-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

No abstract

No abstract

Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of women’s body mass index (BMI) on the probability of a successful external cephalic version (ECV). Material and methods A retrospective population‐based observational study including all women that underwent an ECV in the southeast region of Sweden from January 2014 to December 2019. Data were collected from electronic medical records, Obstetrix, Cerner. The women were divided into BMI categories according to the World Health Organization classification. Women with a BMI below 25 kg/m2 formed the reference group. Crude and adjusted odds ratios for unsuccessful ECV in each BMI group were calculated using binary logistic regression. Furthermore, the association between maternal characteristics and clinical and ultrasound variables at the time of the ECV and unsuccessful ECV was evaluated. Results A total of 2331 women were included. The overall success rate of ECV was 53.4%. Women with a BMI below 25 kg/m2 had a success rate of 51.3% whereas obese women had a success rate of 58.6%. The risk of an unsuccessful ECV among obese women (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) had an OR of 0.74 (95% CI 0.59–0.94) compared with women with a BMI below 25 kg/m2. After adjusting for suitable confounding factors, the association was no longer significant. Higher maternal age, multiparity, higher gestational age, posterior placenta position, polyhydramnios and higher estimated weight of the fetus at the ECV significantly decreased the risk of an unsuccessful ECV. Conclusions Maternal obesity does not seem to negatively influence the success rate of ECV. This is a finding that may encourage both caregivers and obese pregnant women to consider an ECV and so avoid a planned cesarean section for breech presentation in this group.

Introduction The nine‐item list, with organizational and cultural changes, was implemented at the delivery unit in Linköping, Sweden between 2007 and 2010, aiming at improving the quality of care by offering more women a safe and attractive vaginal delivery. The target group for the intervention was nulliparous women at term with spontaneous onset of labor and cephalic presentation (Robson group 1). The aim of this study was to evaluate pregnancy outcomes before, during, early post and late post introduction of the nine‐item list. Material and methods Robson group 1 births (n = 12 763) from 2004 to 2018 were divided into four time periods; before the nine‐item list (2004‐2006), during introduction of the nine‐item list (2007‐2010), early post introduction of the nine‐item list (2011‐2014) and late post introduction of the nine‐item list (2015‐2018). The nine‐item list consists of monitoring of obstetric results, midwife coordinator, risk classification of women, three midwife‐competence levels, teamwork—the midwife, obstetrician and nurse working as a team with the common goal of a normal delivery, obstetric morning round, fetal monitoring skills and obstetric skills training. Perinatal outcomes before, during, early post and late post introduction were compared using a Student's t test for numerical variables and a Pearson chi‐squared test for categorical variables. Results Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes, Apgar score <4 at 5 minutes and umbilical cord arterial pH <7 did not differ significantly between the four time periods. Between before introduction and early post introduction, instrumental vaginal delivery decreased from 19.8% to 12.2% and cesarean section from 9.6% to 4.5%. The late post introduction period showed a maintained effect with 10.7% instrumental deliveries and 3.9% cesarean sections. Obstetric anal sphincter injury grade III decreased instantly during the introduction of the nine‐item list from 7.8% to 5.1% and thereafter remained unchanged. Conclusions Implementation of the nine‐item list increased the proportion of spontaneous vaginal deliveries by reducing the number of instrumental deliveries and cesarean sections without affecting the neonatal outcomes in nulliparous women with spontaneous onset of labor. The nine‐item list intervention seems to provide long‐term sustainable results.

No abstract

No abstract