Insights from a publicly funded homebirth program.

Background: There are high levels of consumer demand for homebirth in Australia, however access is limited due to a wide range of factors, including associated costs of a private midwife and the limited number of publicly funded homebirth models. Homebirth with a qualified midwife, networked into a health system, is a safe option for women with a low-risk pregnancy. This paper has two aims.

A double-blinded randomised controlled study of fluid restriction versus liberal fluid during induction of labour: A pilot study.

Background: Excess intravenous fluid for women requiring an induction of labour may adversely affect the duration of labour and maternal/neonatal outcomes.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the difference in duration of labour and outcomes with a low background infusion rate, compared to liberal background intravenous fluid management.

Materials And Methods: A double blind randomised controlled pilot study was performed on 200 women who underwent induction of labour at a single institution.

Induction of labor and cesarean birth in lower-risk nulliparous women at term: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate whether induction of labor (IOL) is associated with cesarean birth (CB) and perinatal mortality in uncomplicated first births at term compared with expectant management outside the confines of a randomized controlled trial.

Methods: Population-based retrospective cohort study of all births in Victoria, Australia, from 2010 to 2018 (n = 640,191). Preliminary analysis compared IOL at 37 weeks with expectant management at that gestational age and beyond for uncomplicated pregnancies.

Elective induction of labour at full-term gestations and childhood school outcomes.

Aim: To explore the association between induction of labour at full-term gestations in low-risk nulliparous women and childhood school outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective whole-of-population cohort study linking perinatal data to educational test scores at grades 3, 5 and 7 in Victoria, Australia. Low-risk nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies induced at 39 and 40 weeks without a medical indication were compared to those expectantly managed from that week of gestation.

Effect of asthma management with exhaled nitric oxide usual care on perinatal outcomes.

Introduction: Asthma exacerbations in pregnancy are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. We aimed to determine whether fractional exhaled nitric oxide ( )-based asthma management improves perinatal outcomes compared to usual care.

Methods: The Breathing for Life Trial was a multicentre, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial conducted in six hospital antenatal clinics, which compared asthma management guided by (adjustment of asthma treatment according to exhaled nitric oxide and symptoms each 6-12 weeks) to usual care (no treatment adjustment as part of the trial).