Promoting admission in active labor for childbirth: Triage dynamics and early labor lounge use
Abstract
Background: Cesarean birth is the most common surgery amongst women of reproductive age and nearly one third of term pregnant women will birth via cesarean. All professional organizations involved in intrapartum care are advocating for reducing the rate. Overwhelming evidence supports admission in active labor as an effective strategy to promote vaginal birth. Yet, how this evidence translates into decision-making during triage is unknown. Use of an early labor lounge (ELL) as an alternative to hospital admission is one care innovation that has not been evaluated. Purpose: The study aims were to: 1) examine the dynamics of triage from the clinician perspective, and 2) explore the facilitators and barriers to use of an ELL by clinicians. Patient use of the ELL and satisfaction was also explored. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used. Semi-structured interviews of clinical staff were conducted using a qualitative descriptive approach to explore the triage and admission process. A framework analysis utilized the domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to identify barriers and facilitators to ELL use. Surveys examined the satisfaction of women after childbirth; for women using the ELL, their experience was also assessed. Results: Interviews revealed the decision-making triad among the pregnant woman, the provider, and the triage nurse that influences admission. The category that emerged is "Admission of Low-Risk Pregnant Women Depends on Many Factors." Four themes revealed were: 1) woman's expectation about birth, 2) woman's coping with labor, 3) variation in care management, and, 4) maternal and fetal safety. Several barriers and facilitators to ELL use were identified. A higher proportion of ELL users received their prenatal care from a midwife, were informed about the ELL during their prenatal visits, and experienced vaginal deliveries. Conclusion: Obstetrical triage is a complex process with multiple factors to be considered when deciding to admit a woman in labor. The decision making process and the use of an ELL must be further examined in a variety of settings to get a better understanding of context, birth outcomes and satisfaction with birth.Description
University of Maryland, Baltimore. Nursing. Ph.D. 2018Keyword
active labor admissionearly labor lounge
implementation
labor support
latent labor
obstetrical triage
Labor, Obstetric
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Composition of vaginal microbiota during labor and the effect of lubricant useMcElroy, Kathleen Gresia; Regan, Mary J.; 0000-0002-6244-5529 (2016)Background: The composition of vaginal microbiota is critically important during pregnancy because maternal microbes transferred at birth form the basis of the neonate's microbiome. Vaginal dysbiosis, a disruption in composition, is linked with many biological and behavioral factors, including use of personal lubricants. Studies show that lubricants can alter microbial composition and damage the integrity of vaginal epithelium. These findings are concerning because similar lubricants are frequently used during labor. However, the effect of lubricant use on vaginal microbiota during labor has not been studied. Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the composition of vaginal microbiota during labor and to investigate the effect of lubricant use on its bacterial composition. Methods: The prospective cohort study was nested within a federally-funded study (R01NR014826). Fifteen participants collected mid-vaginal specimens during pregnancy, labor, and in the postpartum period, and clinical labor data were extracted from medical records. 16S rRNA gene profiling was used for bacterial composition and multiple linear regression was used to investigate the effect of intrapartum lubricant use. Results: The composition of vaginal microbiota varied among participants, with a notable high abundance of Lactobacillus iners and Gardnerella vaginalis. A significant bivariate negative correlation between lubricant use and relative abundance of L. crispatus disappeared when controlling for time since ruptured membranes. A trend between lubricant use and changes in the composition of vaginal microbiota as measured by the Jensen-Shannon distance was noted but not significant. Conclusions: The study offers novel information about the composition of vaginal microbiota during labor and the effect of lubricant use on its composition. The potential relationship between increased lubricant use and decreased L. crisptatus has important clinical significance for perinatal providers and can be used to begin to build evidence that supports a less invasive approach to perinatal practice. A larger study is needed to further elucidate the association between lubricant use and vaginal dysbiosis.