[Experience with conducting programmed labor]

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Reproductive Medicine

Background:

• High-risk pregnancies often necessitate interventions like cesarean sections.
• Assessing alternative, less invasive delivery methods is crucial for maternal and infant outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of programmed labor in high-risk pregnancies with relative cesarean indications.
• To determine optimal parameters for labor induction and management in this cohort.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 128 high-risk pregnancies undergoing programmed labor.
• Utilized oxytocin or prostaglandin for uterine contraction induction.
• Adjusted drug dosage, rate, and duration based on uterine activity and cervical dilation rates.

Main Results:

• Optimal cervical dilation rates were identified: 1 cm/h (latent phase, primiparas), 1.5 cm/h (latent phase, multiparas), 1.5 cm/h (active phase, primiparas), and 2.0 cm/h (active phase, multiparas).
• Recommended labor durations: at least 10-12 hours for primiparas and 8 hours for multiparas.
• 90.6% of women achieved vaginal delivery; 9.4% required cesarean section.
• All 128 infants were liveborn.

Conclusions:

• Programmed labor is a beneficial and less invasive delivery option for high-risk pregnancies without absolute cesarean indications.
• This method supports a higher rate of vaginal births, improving delivery outcomes.