Delivery in an obstetric birth chair: a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: British journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Vol. 98; no. 7; p. 667
• Main Authors: Crowley, P, Elbourne, D, Ashurst, H, Garcia, J, Murphy, D, Duignan, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.07.1991
• Subjects: Consumer Behavior; Delivery, Obstetric; Female; Humans; Labor Stage, Second; Labor Stage, Third; Obstetric Labor Complications - etiology; Obstetrics - instrumentation; Patient Compliance; Pregnancy; Prognosis
• ISSN: 0306-5456; 1365-215X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1991.tb13453.x

To determine whether nulliparae whose second stage of labour is conducted in an obstetric birth chair have a lower incidence of instrumental delivery than those using a conventional delivery bed. Randomized controlled trial using sealed, opaque envelopes for allocation. Delivery ward in a busy teaching hospital. 1250 nulliparae with a singleton live fetus with cephalic presentation, without epidural anaesthesia, who had achieved full dilatation. Intention to conduct second and third stages of labour in either the Birth-EZ chair or the conventional delivery bed, as randomly allocated. Primary measure: vaginal operative delivery; principal secondary measures: duration of second stage, perineal trauma, blood loss, women's views, and neonatal status. Delivery in the birth chair did not result in a reduction in operative delivery, overall. However, there was a reduction in vaginal operative delivery for fetal heart rate abnormality. There was no beneficial effect on perineal trauma or puerperal perineal pain. Post-partum haemorrhage was more frequent in the birth chair group. Delivery in the birth chair does not offer any obvious advantage to women over delivery on a bed.