Pilot Study of Physiologic Partograph Use Among Low-Risk, Nulliparous Women With Spontaneous Labor Onset.

Introduction: Neal and Lowe developed a physiologic partograph to give clinicians an evidence-based, uniform approach to assessing active labor progress and diagnosing dystocia in high-resource settings. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of implementing the Neal and Lowe partograph for in-hospital labor assessment.

Methods: A descriptive study of low-risk, nulliparous women with spontaneous labor onset was performed at an academic medical center.

Chorioamnionitis: prevention and management.

Chorioamnionitis most often occurs during labor, affecting as many as 10% of laboring women. When intrapartum chorioamnionitis occurs, women are at peripartal risk for endometritis, cesarean birth, and postpartum hemorrhage; and the neonate is at significant risk for sepsis, pneumonia, respiratory distress, and death. The impact is greater for preterm infants where the incidence of chorioamnionitis is nearly 30%.

A profile of Colorado nurse--midwives: implications for health care.

Nurse-midwives provide significant health care to underserved and vulnerable women, yet there is limited information about the nature of nurse-midwifery practices and compensation for services. This study reports the results of a Colorado statewide survey of nurse-midwives (N = 217). Electronic survey was utilized to detail practice in seven areas: demographics, type of practice, compensation, leadership, legislative priorities,teaching involvement, and practice satisfaction.