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Am J Perinatol 2012; 29(09): 723-730
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1314895
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Relationship between Fetal Station and Successful Vaginal Delivery in Nulliparous Women

Sally Y. Segel
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
,
Carlos A. Carreño
2   The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
,
Steven J. Weiner
15   The George Washington University Biostatistics Center, Washington, District of Columbia
,
Steven L. Bloom
3   University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
,
Catherine Y. Spong
16   Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda,, Maryland
,
Michael W. Varner
4   University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
,
Dwight J. Rouse
5   University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Steve N. Caritis
6   University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
,
William A. Grobman
7   Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
,
Yoram Sorokin
8   Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
,
Anthony Sciscione
9   Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
Brian M. Mercer
10   Case Western Reserve University–Metro Health Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
,
John M. Thorp
11   University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
,
Fergal D. Malone
12   Columbia University, New York, New York
,
Margaret Harper
13   Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
,
Jay D. Iams
14   The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
,
for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network › Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

16 February 2012

22 February 2012

Publication Date:
29 May 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Objective To study the relationship between fetal station and successful vaginal delivery in nulliparous women.

Study Design This was a secondary analysis from a previously reported trial of pulse oximetry. Vaginal delivery rates were evaluated and compared with respect to the fetal station. Spontaneous labor and induction of labor groups were evaluated separately. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for confounding factors.

Results Successful vaginal delivery was more frequent with an engaged vertex for spontaneous labor (86.2% versus 78.6%; p = 0.01) and induced labor (87.7% versus 66.1%; p < 0.01). After adjustment, engaged fetal vertex was not associated with vaginal delivery for spontaneous labor (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95 to 2.3; p = 0.08) or for women with induced labor (OR 2.2; 95% CI 0.96 to 5.1; p = 0.06).

Conclusion Among nulliparous women enrolled in the FOX randomized trial in spontaneous labor or for labor induction, an engaged fetal vertex does not affect their vaginal delivery rate.

Keywords

labor - fetal station - vaginal delivery
 

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