A-BIRTHPERFORM Versus Conventional Partogram in the Improvement of Birth Results

Stimulation of labour with synthetic oxytocin is increasingly used all over the world. Synthetic oxytocin is used in cases of dystocia of labour, with the objective of attempting labour progression until achieving vaginal birth. The use of oxytocin could have potential adverse effects on the mother and the fetus, such as uterine tachysystole, which can lead to uterine rupture and fetal distress . There is a risk of fetal hypoxemia and acidemia if the contractions are very frequent and prolonged. The risk of instrumented delivery is even higher when oxytocin is used when labour is progressing normally. There is a significant association between oxytocin use to stimulate labour and severe perineal lacerations, postpartum urinary retention, postpartum hemorrhage and delayed onset of breastfeeding. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines dystocia of labour as four hours without progress during the active labor and is recommended to medically intervene . When health professionals that assist women in labour (Midwives and Obstetricians) do not follow the clinical guidelines on intrapartum care, labour dystocia and oxytocin use, and oxytocin is used routinely without medical indication, ends in the erroneous use of oxytocin. According to the evaluation of Strategy of Attention to Normal Childbirth (SANC), the National Health System in Spain, which sets standards of quality in obstetric practice, showed a rate of 53.3% of oxytocin use during labor in pregnant women with spontaneous onset of labour, which is high and is far from the expected standard (expected standard of 5 to 10%, as an indicator of good practice).

According to the Romano and de Lothian study, a high use of oxytocin during labour would be related to the so-called "cascade of interventions", referring to different obstetric interventions that are used routinely and not based on scientific evidence which could interfere in the physiology of childbirth and in the skills of women to cope with labour and labour pain. The use of oxytocin has a limited and uncertain benefit , and may even be harmful in some specific situations during labor. Lothian suggests in his study that routine practices that are unnecessary in physiological births should be avoided, thus minimizing complications, and improving perinatal outcomes.

An international consensus was published in 2017 to review the scientific evidence on care practices that facilitate a physiological delivery process and its relationship with the improvement of perinatal outcomes and maternal satisfaction.

The increase in the use of oxytocin during childbirth in healthy women and with spontaneous onset of labour seems to be generalized worldwide, and national and international agencies demand an improvement in the care provided during childbirth in women with pregnancies of low obstetric risk, with the objective of limiting unnecessary interventions during childbirth and birth.

In the same line, in 2018 an international initiative for childbirth (ICI) is promoted with 12 steps towards a safe and respectful Mother-Family motherhood, ICI-Mother Baby Childbirth Organization (IMBCO) and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), in which "step 6" recommends: Promote and provide clinical practice based on evidence that has proven to be beneficial and respect the normal physiology of labour. Allowing labour to develop at its own pace, avoiding unnecessary interventions.

In Spain, although the guidelines on Normal Childbirth recommends not to perfuse oxytocin routinely during labour, since the evidence shows that this does not improve the results (SANC), the rate of 53% of oxytocin shows that it seems to be routinely used. Routine oxytocin use´s consequences are: increase in cesarean and instrumental deliveries, loss of fetal wellbeing intrapartum, uterine rupture, among others.

The partogram is one of the conventional obstetric tools used in labour wards, specially the World Health Organization partogram with the four-hours action line, which is widely used and it serves to give a graphic content and a global vision of the evolution and medication given in a concrete women in labour, although a routine use of partogram is not recommended, and new studies are needed to stablish the effectiveness of the partogram. There are frequent professional errors using conventional partogram and this justify the need for a tool different from the usual ones. The algorithms of care in normal and in disrupted labour care of The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines are complex. The use of a tool for professionals that facilitate decision making by following the clinical practice guidelines could ensure the guidelines are followed-up properly and improve quality of care, patients safety related aspects and improve the results of childbirth for women and the neonates.

The tool the investigators are developing is called A-BIRTHPERFORM and consists of the clinical guidelines algorithms to help decision-making based on scientific evidence. The algorithm takes into account the specific labour phase and the women characteristics ( first or second stage of labour, and if in second stage of labour the algorithm differentiate if latent or active phase of this stage), the parity (nulliparous or multiparous women) and shakes into account whether the women uses epidural analgesia as pain relief during labour. It would be like an interactive partogram, where the professional will be guided through the appropriate algorithm of care during the labour process. There is evidence about the use of digital tools for professionals in different areas of health. In the area of maternity care the investigators have found evidence on digital tools for cardiotocographic interpretation, or as an aid for health professional for decision making on women admission to labour ward. The investigators have not found any evidence about this type of tool proposed, for its specific intrapartum care use. It seems to be a lack of research studies on digital tools in childbirth providing clinical and therapeutic advantages in birth results in relation to pre-technological care.

A-BIRTHPERFORM could help reduce the use of oxytocin, decrease instrumented deliveries and severe perineal lacerations that seem to be directly related to the use of oxytocin . The digital tool aims to provide standardization and systematization to childbirth care and to serve as a communication tool between team members. Digital tools for health professionals have proven to be effective to support a better decision making and better results in patients and users of health services.

For the development of A-BIRTHPERFORM digital tool the investigators are been supported by Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM). A-BIRTHPERFORM will be tested to evaluate its comprehensibility, acceptability and viability. This tool aims to be an aid for clinicians, both in the monitoring and support during normal birth, and in complex situations helping to determine at each moment of the process how to intervene during labour, in case of labour dystocia for example, by artificially rupturing the membranes or by using oxytocin, or for arrested labour by performing an instrumented delivery or cesarean section.

On the other hand, this tool allows the professional to freely access from any digital device, not necessarily located at the counter or reception of the maternal unit, which facilitates personal reflection on labour progress and with the team, in order to improve health results for women and their families.

The purpose of the investigators is to assess whether A-BIRTHPERFORM improves perinatal outcomes compared with conventional partogram use.