[Effect of modified labor posture on oxygenation of the fetus--a pulse oximetry study]

Abstract

Background: The evaluation of the birth position and its effects on maternal and fetal wellbeing has been a topic of perinatal research over the last decades. The aim of our observational study was to determine the effects of a modified and vertical maternal position on fetal oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry.

Methods: Fetal oxygen saturation was measured by pulse oximetry in 56 labouring women randomly and successively adopting the supine position in 96.4%, the sitting position in 25.0%, the standing position in 14.3% and the prone position in 12.5%. The statistical analysis addressed the integrated 10 minutes period of SpO2 registrations before versus after adopting the modified position. Furthermore the mean values and the standard deviation (SD) for the total registration periods of different birth position was calculated.

Results: While the supine position induced a reduction in oxygen saturation, sitting and prone position were favorable for fetal oxygenation as compared to horizontal position.

Discussion: These findings implicate a clinical benefit of the modified birth position.