Background: Meconium stained amniotic fluid occurs in 9 to 20% of deliveries. It has long been implicated as a factor influencing foetal wellbeing during the intrapartum and postpartum period. Many authors have suggested that the type and the time of passage of meconium are most significant factors affecting foetal outcome. This study was carried out to find out the effect of meconium stained liquor during labour and its perinatal outcome.Methods: This prospective cross sectional and comparative study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital over a period of 1 year. The study group comprised of 118 women having MSAF during labour and the comparative group of 118 women with clear amniotic fluid which were randomly selected. The demographic data, obstetrical history, intrapartum findings and Apgar score were documented on predesigned proforma. Data collected was analysed using student t-test, chi square test, Z test for comparison of proportions and coefficient of variation for comparison of consistency of distributions.Results: Out of 1192 cases studied 118 cases showed presence of meconium stained liquor (9.89%). Caesarean section was performed in 41.52% cases with meconium stained liquor versus 31.35% in clear liquor group. Apgar score at 1 minute was significantly lower in meconium stained liquor (p<0.01). In meconium stained liquor group 42.37% foetuses had normal, 36.44% had suspicious and 21.18% had abnormal heart rate patterns respectively. There was no significant difference in the number of cases requiring NICU admission in meconium stained liquor (14.4%) and clear liquor groups (9.3%) (Z=1.214, P>0.05).Conclusions: Meconium staining is a commonly observed phenomenon. labour complicated with thick meconium stained liquor should ideally be categorised in to high risk obstetrics and managed in tertiary care with consultant obstetrician, consultant neonatologist and NICU in order to improve the perinatal outcome.

Background: The objective of the study was to compare maternal and foetal outcome after induction in two groups: women who were induced at 40-weeks and at 41-weeks.Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted over period of one year from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 in the obstetrics and gynaecology department. A total of 200 uncomplicated primigravida women were included in the study. The data was collected and comparative analysis was done between two groups: control group (group A), women with induction at 40 weeks; study group (group B), women with induction at 41 weeks. The outcome was then analysed in terms of mode of delivery, oligohydramnios, meconium-stained liquor, Apgar score, need of NICU, perinatal death. The data was collected, analysed and statistical analysis was done using the Chi square test.Results: Out of total 200 women, 104 women were of 40 weeks and 96 women had completed 41 weeks. The LSCS rate was reduced from 25.96% to 17.7%, when the labour was induced at 41 weeks, the instrumental delivery rate was low in the study group compared to the control group. Even though the meconium staining of liquor was high but NICU admission and perinatal mortality was comparatively lower in the study group.Conclusions: Induction of labour done at 41weeks is associated with reduced maternal morbidity and no adverse effect on the perinatal outcome as compare to induction at 40 weeks.