Optimising recovery after perineal trauma: Implementation of an evidence-based patient-centred care and clinical practice guideline.

Background: Perineal trauma and pain can affect the quality of life of women who experience vaginal birth.

Aim: To investigate the effect of perineal care and pain management on women's postpartum recovery.

Methods: This was a Quasi-experimental study.

Investigating service delivery and perinatal outcomes during the low prevalence first year of COVID-19 in a multiethnic Australian population: a cohort study.

Objective: Investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal outcomes in an Australian high migrant and low COVID-19 prevalent population to identify if COVID-19 driven health service changes and societal influences impact obstetric and perinatal outcomes.

Design: Retrospective cohort study with pre COVID-19 period 1 January 2018-31 January 2020, and first year of global COVID-19 period 1 February 2020-31 January 2021. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted adjusting for confounders including age, area-level socioeconomic status, gestation, parity, ethnicity and body mass index.

Comparing JM-105 and MBJ-20 Transcutaneous Bilirubinometers According to the Area Tested in Ethnically Diverse Late-Preterm and Term Neonates.

This study aims to evaluate the correlation between the results of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) levels measured by the 2 transcutaneous bilirubinometers according to the area tested and to compare the TcB measurements and the serum bilirubin (SBR) levels. We screened 78 neonates born at more than 35 weeks of gestation and aged less than 168 hours for jaundice. We used JM-105 and MBJ-20 to measure the TcB at the forehead and the chest.

Risk of preterm birth in the subsequent pregnancy following caesarean section at full cervical dilatation compared with mid-cavity instrumental delivery.

Background: Expediting delivery in the second stage of labour often involves a choice between a caesarean section at full dilatation or mid-cavity instrumental delivery. Accumulating evidence suggests that the mode of delivery may influence the risk of preterm birth in the subsequent pregnancy.

Aims: To directly compare first birth caesarean section at full dilatation with mid-cavity instrumental delivery for the risk of preterm birth in the subsequent pregnancy (second birth).

Efficacy of surgical excision and sub-dermal injection of triamcinolone acetonide for treatment of keloid scars after caesarean section: a single blind randomised controlled trial protocol.

Background: One of the first-line options to treat keloid scars is corticosteroid injection after excision of the existing scar. A thorough literature search has shown a lack of research on the injection of corticosteroid injection immediately after the excision of the existing caesarean section keloid scars. Therefore, in the proposed study, we aim to investigate the effect of surgical excision and corticosteroid (triamcinolone acetonide) injection immediately after surgical removal of old caesarean section keloid scars on the recurrence of the scars.

Validation of the accuracy of postpartum haemorrhage data in the ObstetriX database: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Data related to postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) are important clinical parameters which can be applied to all places of birth, and their recording can be missed by busy clinicians providing critical care to women. We compared the accuracy of electronic ObstetriX records to the paper-based medical records of the women who sustained PPH.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study over a period of one month, 363 electronic records were compared to the paper-based medical records.

Comparison of the effect of caseload midwifery program and standard midwifery-led care on primiparous birth outcomes: A retrospective cohort matching study.

Background: The effectiveness of continuity of care during the perinatal period is well documented, but implementing continuity of care model to practice requires evaluation.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of a caseload midwifery program (CMP) on birth outcomes and rates of perinatal interventions at a metropolitan tertiary hospital in Australia, compared with standard midwifery-led care (SMC).

Methods: This was a retrospective, matched-cohort study.

Point-of-care measurement of fetal blood lactate - Time to trust a new device.

Background: Point-of-care lactate devices are used worldwide for intrapartum decision making. Current practice is often based on Lactate Pro (Arkray) but its imminent product discontinuation necessitates determination of an optimal replacement device.

Aims: To evaluate the performance of Lactate Pro and two other point-of-care devices, Lactate Pro 2 (Arkray) and StatStrip (Nova Biomedical), and to derive scalp lactate cut-offs equivalent to the current intervention trigger of >4.

Rapid identification of group B streptococcus carriage by PCR to assist in the management of women with prelabour rupture of membranes in term pregnancy.

Background: Management of prelabour rupture of membranes at term (37 weeks gestation or later) (TPROM) remains complicated in the absence of a rapid assay for group B streptococcus (GBS) colonisation.

Aims: To evaluate the accuracy and clinical utility of a commercial PCR assay, compared with culture, for detection of GBS colonisation in pregnant women presenting with TPROM.

Methods: A prospective study of women presenting with TPROM conducted in a large tertiary hospital (Westmead Hospital, Australia).

Lactate study using umbilical cord blood: agreement between Lactate Pro hand-held devices with blood gas analyser and evaluation of lactate stability over time.

Background: Lactate measurements have become increasingly preferred over pH analysis in the evaluation of fetal acidaemia in labour. In a busy labour ward, often the umbilical cord may be sampled late and as a result yield unreliable lactate values.

Aim: To investigate the agreement of hand-held device Lactate Pro with a reference method blood gas analyser and evaluate the stability of umbilical cord lactate values over time.

Incidence and risk factors predicting blood transfusion in caesarean section.

Background: Routine preoperative evaluation for caesarean section (CS) has commonly included a blood type and screen evaluation due to risk of blood transfusion. However, there have been no objective local data to support such practices.

Aims: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of blood type and screen testing for CS.