open access
The effect of the absence of an accompanying person at birth on the basic perinatal outcomes — a randomized study during the lockdown in the COVID epidemic
Affiliations- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic
open access
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the impact of an accompanying person on the basic parameters of perinatal outcome [e.g. length of stages of labour, proportion of Caesarean sections (CS), vaginal surgical delivery, perineal injury, Abgar score, epidural analgesia] were analysed.
Material and methods: A retrospective single-institution study analysed data from 872 deliveries during three periods: March, 2020 ( COVID-19 government restriction on accompanying person), February, 2020 (control 1) and March, 2019 (control 2).
Results: In all, 872 deliveries were evaluated. There was no delivery with accompanying person in group 1 and 181 and 254 in groups 2 and 3. Groups were balanced in caesarean section rate. There were more acute CS in the group 1 than in the group 3 (36% vs 25%, p = 0.028), however there were no diferrence when compared with the group 2 (36% vs 33%, p = 0.602). No difference was found in the length of the labour between the groups. There was no difference in Apgar score in 5th or 10th minute either and also in the incidence of perineal tear IIIrd grade.
Conclusions: The absence of accompanying person or father at the delivery does not affect the the basic parameters of perinatal outcome. This finding provides more freedom in the mother‘s decision about the presence of an accompanying person at the birth. And also may be an argument for reducing the remorse (bad feelings) of fathers who cannot or do not want to be present at birth.
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the impact of an accompanying person on the basic parameters of perinatal outcome [e.g. length of stages of labour, proportion of Caesarean sections (CS), vaginal surgical delivery, perineal injury, Abgar score, epidural analgesia] were analysed.
Material and methods: A retrospective single-institution study analysed data from 872 deliveries during three periods: March, 2020 ( COVID-19 government restriction on accompanying person), February, 2020 (control 1) and March, 2019 (control 2).
Results: In all, 872 deliveries were evaluated. There was no delivery with accompanying person in group 1 and 181 and 254 in groups 2 and 3. Groups were balanced in caesarean section rate. There were more acute CS in the group 1 than in the group 3 (36% vs 25%, p = 0.028), however there were no diferrence when compared with the group 2 (36% vs 33%, p = 0.602). No difference was found in the length of the labour between the groups. There was no difference in Apgar score in 5th or 10th minute either and also in the incidence of perineal tear IIIrd grade.
Conclusions: The absence of accompanying person or father at the delivery does not affect the the basic parameters of perinatal outcome. This finding provides more freedom in the mother‘s decision about the presence of an accompanying person at the birth. And also may be an argument for reducing the remorse (bad feelings) of fathers who cannot or do not want to be present at birth.
Keywords
accompanying person; father; delivery; perinatal outcome
About this articleTitle
The effect of the absence of an accompanying person at birth on the basic perinatal outcomes — a randomized study during the lockdown in the COVID epidemic
Journal
Issue
Article type
Research paper
Pages
1013-1017
Published online
2022-03-24
Page views
3441
Article views/downloads
468
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Ginekol Pol 2022;93(12):1013-1017.
Keywords
accompanying person
father
delivery
perinatal outcome
Authors
David Pavlista
References (19)- Extraordinary measure of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic dated 19.3.2020. Ministerstvo zdravotnictví v zájmu ochrany veřejného zdraví zakázalo přítomnost otců při porodech – Ministerstvo zdravotnictví. www.mzcr.cz (20.11.2021).
- Xue WL, Shorey S, Wang W, et al. Fathers' involvement during pregnancy and childbirth: An integrative literature review. Midwifery. 2018; 62: 135–145.
- Ip WY. Relationships between partner's support during labour and maternal outcomes. J Clin Nurs. 2000; 9(2): 265–272.
- Draper J. Whose welfare in the labour room? A discussion of the increasing trend of fathers' birth attendance. Midwifery. 1997; 13(3): 132–138.
- Chan KKL, Paterson-Brown S. How do fathers feel after accompanying their partners in labour and delivery? J Obstet Gynaecol. 2002; 22(1): 11–15.
- Kainz G, Eliasson M, von Post I. The child's father, an important person for the mother's well-being during the childbirth: a hermeneutic study. Health Care Women Int. 2010; 31(7): 621–635.
- Redshaw M, Henderson J. Fathers' engagement in pregnancy and childbirth: evidence from a national survey. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2013; 13: 70.
- Niven C. How helpful is the presence of the husband at childbirth? Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 2007; 3(2): 45–53.
- Klaus MH, Kennell JH, Robertson SS, et al. Effects of social support during parturition on maternal and infant morbidity. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1986; 293(6547): 585–587.
- Sauls DJ. Effects of labor support on mothers, babies, and birth outcomes. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2002; 31(6): 733–741.
- Sosa R, Kennell J, Klaus M, et al. The effect of a supportive companion on perinatal problems, length of labor, and mother-infant interaction. N Engl J Med. 1980; 303(11): 597–600.
- King L. Hiding in the pub to cutting the cord? Men's presence at childbirth in britain. 1940s-2000s. Soc Hist Med. 2017; 30(2): 389–407.
- King L. Hidden fathers? The significance of fatherhood in mid-twentieth-century britain. Contemporary British History. 2012; 26(1): 25–46.
- Jomeen J. Fathers in the birth room: choice or coercion? Help or hindrance? J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2017; 35(4): 321–323.
- Scott KD, Klaus PH, Klaus MH. The obstetrical and postpartum benefits of continuous support during childbirth. J Womens Health Gend Based Med. 1999; 8(10): 1257–1264.
- Odent M. Is the participation of the father at birth dangerous? Midwifery Today Int Midwife. 1999(51): 23–24.
- Herman R, Hodek B, Ivicević-Bakulić T, et al. The efect of the presence of the husband during childbirth. Lijec Vjesn. 1997; 119: 231–232.
- Bohren MA, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C, et al. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017; 7: CD003766.
- Harville E, Xiong Xu, Buekens P. Disasters and perinatal health:a systematic review. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2010; 65(11): 713–728.
