Intrauterine contraction parameters at baseline and following epidural and combined spinal-epidural analgesia: A repeated measures comparison.

Objective: The effects of epidural and combined spinal-epidural analgesia on uterine contraction parameters are unclear, although as many as 80% of laboring women use neuraxial analgesia. We explored the effects of epidural and combined spinal-epidural analgesia on all uterine contraction parameters using a retrospective analysis of selected parturients, who required Intrauterine Pressure Catheter (IUPC) instrumentation for clinical management. Additionally, we analyzed the effects of parity, Pitocin dose, and mode of neuraxial anesthesia, i.

Uterine Contraction Parameters Before and During the Pre-Epidural Fluid Bolus: A Pilot Study.

Background: The first stage of labor is significantly longer with epidural analgesia use, implying an alteration in uterine contractility. Although the pre-epidural fluid bolus is used with every epidural and affects as many as 80% of laboring women, its effects on uterine contraction parameters are unknown.

Design: Using a retrospective descriptive repeated measures design, we compared uterine contraction parameters including frequency, duration, peak intensity, resting tone, and Montevideo units at baseline and during the intravascular pre-epidural fluid bolus (Bolus) epochs for healthy laboring women at term gestation undergoing augmentation or induction.

Midwives in medical student and resident education and the development of the medical education caucus toolkit.

Midwives have been involved formally and informally in the training of medical students and residents for many years. Recent reductions in resident work hours, emphasis on collaborative practice, and a focus on midwives as key members of the maternity care model have increased the involvement of midwives in medical education. Midwives work in academic settings as educators to teach the midwifery model of care, collaboration, teamwork, and professionalism to medical students and residents.

Pioneering a universal curriculum: a look at six disciplines involved in women's health care.

This paper describes a multidisciplinary project of curriculum development and implementation at one university. Universal learning concepts for six health care disciplines in women's health, including nurse-midwifery, are being piloted in an online classroom environment. This multidisciplinary team approach to education distributes the work load, invites experts to share resources, and avoids the duplication of resources across the university departments and schools.