Statement content in Labour and Delivery

A new randomised controlled trial from Sweden published in the BMJ last week points to higher iron stores in the blood of infants four months after birth.  These were babies who were subject to delayed cord blood clamping.  These neonates were also found to be less anaemic and researchers suggest that a delay in clamping for uncomplicated pregnancies delivered at term should be standard practice. 

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is aware of the headlines and stories in the media today about the NICE guidelines on caesarean section due to be published soon. 

The paper, Instrumental delivery: how to meet the need for improvements in training in The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (TOG), emphasises the need to provide practical training using simulators and mannequins and the importance of maintaining these skills.

A paper published in the BMJ today looking at data from Scottish national registers shows a higher incidence of perinatal mortality for births occurring during the out-of-hours period (17.01 – 08.59hrs and on weekends).  Researchers found 26% of neonatal deaths from intrapartum anoxia (lack of oxygen) were associated with delivery during this time of the day.  The increase in risk of neonatal death ascribed to anoxia, excluding planned caesarean delivery, was found to be 45%.   

Recent media attention has highlighted different opinions relating to the presence of fathers during labour and delivery. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) encourages the presence of a supportive partner during labour and delivery.