'Not in established labour': outcomes for women cared for in an Irish antenatal ward

Background A retrospective audit was conducted in a Dublin Maternity Hospital in November2012 with women in early labour admitted to the antenatal ward. Aim and objectives Aim To ascertain the outcomes of labour and describe... [ view full abstract ]

Background
A retrospective audit was conducted in a Dublin Maternity Hospital in November2012 with women in early labour admitted to the antenatal ward.

Aim and objectives
Aim
To ascertain the outcomes of labour and describe the interventions performed by midwives for women admitted to the antenatal ward at term gestation with labour-related symptoms.
Objectives
1. To describe the interventions for women admitted to an antenatal ward at term gestation, not in established labour, in terms of vaginal examinations, administration of pain relief, and reason for transfer to delivery suite.
2. To ascertain and describe labour outcomes, in terms of type of birth and duration of labour.

Method
Study design
This was a retrospective, descriptive audit of midwifery interventions and labour outcomes for women.
Ethical approval
The audit was approved by the hospital research committee and the Director of Midwifery. It was judged by a University Ethics Committee as not requiring ethical approval, as only anonymised data were used.
Sample
The sample included 47 women in early labour admitted from the assessment unit to the antenatal ward in November 2012.
Data collection
Data were collected through a retrospective review of hospital records.

Data analysis
Data were analysed by hand using descriptive statistics.

Findings
The most common reason for transfer of women to labour ward was establishment of labour (72.34%). Among the women transferred in active labour, 97.05% had vaginal births with an average duration of labour of 4.1 hours (with no augmentation) and 5.3 hours (with augmentation). All women transferred for augmentation of labour (27.66%) had vaginal births.

Conclusion and implications
Women admitted to the antenatal ward in early labour need quality midwifery care to meet their needs. Such care has implications for health care providers to ensure adequate staffing, and for researchers to conduct future research.