Maternal and neonatal consequences of arrival in the delivery room in labor

This study was conducted as a two-group, prospective, analytical study to evaluate the effects of the admission time to the delivery room (in the latent and active phase) of pregnant women on maternal/neonatal outcomes. It was carried out with the participation of 282 pregnant women who met the criteria for inclusion between October 2018 and April 2019 at the Turkish Ministry of Health Public Hospitals Institution, Istanbul Provincial Public Hospitals Association Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital. The data in the study were collected by using the "Pregnant Identification Form", "Delivery Action Diagnosis Form" and "Labor Affectivity Scale". Descriptive statistics (number, percentage, mean, standard deviation), Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-Square, Student T-test, and Fisher Exact tests were used to analyze the data. In those admitted to the delivery room in the latent phase (≤3 cm dilatation), vaginal examination frequency, oxytocin induction, Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM), and prolonged labor rates were higher, their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd stages of labor and their hospital stay were longer, their initiation of breastfeeding was late, and their birth experiences were negative (p<0.05). In newborns, there was no difference in terms of Apgar scores <7 in the 1st and 5th minutes, being sent to the intensive care unit, neonatal hypoglycemia, need for resuscitation, newborn weight and length, cord entanglement, and meconium aspiration (p>0.05). As a result, pregnant women were more likely to experience intrapartum interventions in early (≤3 cm dilatation) admission to the delivery room, causing a less positive perception of labor. Therefore, late admission to the delivery room until the active phase may be beneficial for low-risk term pregnancies. It is recommended that pregnant women be informed about these symptoms during their prenatal check-ups.