Maternal inflammatory markers and term labor performance.

Objective: We sought to examine the relationship between maternal markers of inflammation and labor performance.

Study Design: A nested cohort study was performed utilizing an established cohort of term nulliparous patients. Maternal blood was collected at the onset of regular, painful contractions in patients undergoing labor induction or at admission in patients with spontaneous labor.

Maternal inflammation in spontaneous term labor.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between peripheral markers of maternal inflammation and the onset of term labor.

Study Design: A nested case-control study was performed with serum that had been collected at routine visits from a cohort of 607 term nulliparous women. Cases (n = 20) labored spontaneously within 48 hours of enrollment, and control subjects (n = 80) labored spontaneously ≥14 days after enrollment.