title: Maternal position during labor: effects on fetal oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of maternal left lateral, right lateral, and supine positions during labor on fetal oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fetal oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry was obtained in 15 laboring women randomly and successively adopting left lateral, supine, and right lateral positions for 10 minutes each. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes in fetal oxygen saturation were observed in different maternal positions. The supine position was associated with a lower fetal oxygen saturation than the left lateral position. One supine hypotensive syndrome occurred and was associated with a drop in fetal oxygen saturation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal supine position during labor is associated with a lower fetal oxygen saturation than the left lateral position.
authors.affiliation: Maternité Port Royal-Baudelocque, Université René Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carbonne
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benachi
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lévèque
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cabrol
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papiernik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011187:Posture; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen