Can the frequency of vaginal examinations influence the duration of labour? A prospective randomised study

Abstract

A prospective randomised study was conducted to assess whether the frequency of vaginal examinations can influence the duration of labour. One hundred and nine nulliparous patients in spontaneous labour, after 37 completed weeks of gestation, were randomly allocated to receive either 2-hourly or 4-hourly vaginal examinations to assess the progress of labour. There was no difference in the total duration of labour in both groups nor in the total number of vaginal examinations. The results of the study indicate that, as far as the duration of labour is concerned, there is no added value in advocating 2-hourly vaginal examinations to shorten labour.

Vaginal Birth at Term – Part 2. Guideline of the DGGG, OEGGG and SGGG (S3-Level, AWMF Registry No. 015/083, December 2020)

“…Ein Partogramm ist als Basisdokumentation anzusehen. Allgemeinhin gilt, dass durch die Dokumentation der Geburtsverlauf jederzeit nachvollziehbar sein soll 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 .…”

“…Guideline adaptation: NICE guideline CG190 Intrapartum care for healthy women and babies [3], recommendation 39 [26 -31] Level of consensus: Guideline adaptation: NICE guideline CG190 Intrapartum care for healthy women and babies [3], recommendation 162 [32,33] Level of consensus: 82 %…”

“…Guideline adaptation: NICE guideline CG190 Intrapartum care for healthy women and babies 3 , recommendation 162 32 , 33…”

“…A partogram is basic documentation of key parameters and events. The general rule is that documentation must ensure that progress of labor and the birth is transparent at all times 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 .…”

Evidence-based labor management: first stage of labor (part 3)

“…There were no data on maternal or neonatal infections in 1 RCT evaluating the frequency of cervical examinations (1 RCT; 109 women). 29 Membrane sweeping performed once in labor does not decrease the duration of labor compared with no sweeping (1 RCT; 400 women). 30 In summary, there is no recommended frequency of cervical examinations or sweeping of membranes in labor (weak recommendation).…”