[Is grand multiparity an obstetrical risk factor?].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to analyze the course of labor of grand multiparas (4 deliveries and more) in comparison to multiparas (2 or 3 deliveries).


METHODS
A group of 400 grand multiparas were included in the study and compared with a group of 393 multiparas. All the deliveries took place in the City Hospital in Puck in the years 1998-2002. The age of parturients, duration of pregnancy, pregnancy accompanying pathologies, course and way of delivery, indications for cesarean section, complications of labor and newborns' condition were taken into account and analyzed statistically.


RESULTS
It occurred that grand multiparas were significantly more often countryside dwellers, experienced preterm deliveries, gained less weight during pregnancy and amniorrhexis took place in a more advanced 1st stage of labor. Perineal ruptures and episiotomies were significantly less frequent in the study group. Moreover, grand multiparas preferred traditional form of labor, more rarely deciding on water labor, despite its common access. There were no differences as to the duration of labor stages, accompanying pathologies, the use of oxytocin, postpartum curettage and newborns' condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Grand multiparity seems not to be an independent risk factor of obstetrical complications and should not be considered dangerous in centers with well organized modern perinatal care.
Matusiak
Robert
R
I Katedra i Klinika Połoznictwa i Ginekologii AM w Warszawie. robertm@esculap.pl
Szymusik
Iwona
I
Kosińska-Kaczyńska
Katarzyna
K
Borowska
Aleksandra
A
Myszewska
Aleksandra
A
Morawski
Zbigniew
Z
Wielgoś
Mirosław
M
Przyboś
Andrzej
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007229:Infant Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010298:Parity; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016387:Women's Health