One-to-one nurse labor support of nulliparous women stimulated with oxytocin.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the benefits of one-to-one nurse labor support with the benefits of usual intrapartum nursing care in women stimulated with oxytocin.


METHODS
A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
A 637-bed university hospital.


METHODS
One hundred nulliparous women 37 weeks or more gestation, carrying singletons, in labor with vertex presentation, stimulated with oxytocin, less than 5 cm dilated at baseline, and not scheduled for cesarean delivery or induction nor having paid labor support present.


METHODS
One-to-one care consisted of the presence of a nurse during labor and birth who provided emotional support, physical comfort, and instruction on relaxation and coping techniques. Usual care consisted of care for 2-3 laboring women with supportive activities varying by nurse.


METHODS
Cesarean delivery.


RESULTS
A beneficial trend because of one-to-one nurse support, with a 56% reduction in risk of total cesarean deliveries [RR of experimental vs. control = 0.44 (95% confidence interval = 0.19 to 1.01)].


CONCLUSIONS
The beneficial trend in reducing cesarean deliveries attributed to one-to-one nursing in women stimulated with oxytocin suggests that continuous support by intrapartum nursing staff may benefit women stimulated with oxytocin during labor.
Gagnon
A J
AJ
McGill University School of Nursing, Centre for Nursing Research, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Waghorn
K
K
D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000451:nursing; D004420:Dystocia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods; D009773:Obstetric Nursing / Q000379:methods; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
D010121:Oxytocin