Background:The objectives of the study are to determine the relationship between the umbilical artery Doppler and perinatal outcome in growth restricted fetuses and to compare the outcome with those of normal fetuses. Methods: A prospective observational study in which subjects were divided into two groups, pregnancies affected with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and pregnancies with normal fetuses. Both the groups were followed with Doppler velocimetry of umbilical artery after 28 weeks till delivery. The perinatal outcome of both the groups with normal and abnormal umbilical artery Doppler (reduced/ absent/ reversed enddiastolic flow) were analysed with Chi-square test and student t -test using SPSS software version 15.0. Results: Umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry showed significant abnormality in growth restricted foetuses in comparison to normal foetuses. There was significant increase in the delivery of IUGR foetuses <37 weeks gestation(p<0.05). There was a significant increase in operative deliveries in both the groups with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler. A significant rise in adverse perinatal outcomes, Apgar <7 at 5 min and low birth weight in IUGR foetuses in comparison to normal foetuses (p<0.05). Conclusions: There is a strict correlation between abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry and an increased incidence of perinatal complications in growth restricted foetuses compared to normal foetuses. Hence, umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry should be used in all patients with fetal growth restriction, to identify impending hypoxia, to optimise the time of delivery and to optimise the perinatal outcome in these patients.

Background: Amniotic fluid provides a protective milieu for the growing fetus in pregnancy and labour. A decrease in the amniotic fluid volume has been associated with increased maternal morbidity and fetal morbidity and mortality. The purpose was to compare the effect of labour induction on the fetomaternal outcome in women with oligohydramnios, borderline liquor and normal liquor at term.Methods: A retrospective study of all the labour induction in women with oligohydramnios, borderline liquor and normal liquor volume at 37-42 weeks gestation in a tertiary care teaching hospital. The demographic characteristics, maternal outcomes like mode of delivery, indication for operative delivery, meconium stained liquor and perinatal outcomes were compared in between the three groups. Parametric data was compared by chi-square test and non-parametric data by students’-test. A p-value less than 0.05 was taken as significant.Results: Among the 2338 deliveries during the study period, labour was induced in 266 women (11.3%). Out of which, 109 cases (40.9%) in oligohydramnios group, 111cases (41.7%) in borderline liquor group and 46 cases in normal liquor group. The incidence of meconium stained liquor, the number of operative deliveries and fetal distress was significantly higher and significantly lower birth weight (<2.5 kg) in the group with oligohydramnios and borderline liquor (p <0.05). Low Apgar score and admission to neonatal intensive care unit was higher in the oligohydramnios group (p<0.05).Conclusions: Induction of labour on detecting borderline liquor at term may help in reduction of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.