Maternal health practices and complications of term labor.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between a healthful life-style, demonstrated by selected health practices, and complications in term labor. A sample of 493 clinic patients were interviewed at term, but prior to the onset of labor, regarding nine health practices. In a logistic regression, three of the nine practices examined were associated with significant changes in the rate of intrapartum complications: smokers experienced fewer intrapartum problems, whereas those with excess weight for height at conception and those whose gestational weight gain exceeded 40 pounds experienced an increased incidence of complications.
Marshall
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VA
Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, CT 06536-9740.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy