title: The effect of uterine fundal pressure on the duration of the second stage of labor: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of uterine fundal pressure on shortening the second stage of labor and on the fetal outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Teaching and research hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred ninety-seven women between 37 and 42 gestational weeks with singleton cephalic presentation admitted to the delivery unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Random allocation into groups with or without manual fundal pressure during the second stage of labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was the duration of the second stage of labor. Secondary outcome measures were umbilical artery pH, HCO3-, base excess, pO2, pCO2 values and the rate of instrumental delivery, severe maternal morbidity/mortality, neonatal trauma, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, and neonatal death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in the mean duration of the second stage of labor and secondary outcome measures except for mean pO2 which was lower and mean pCO2 which was higher in the fundal pressure group. Nevertheless, the values still remained within normal ranges and there were no neonates with an Apgar score <7 in either of the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of fundal pressure on a delivering woman was ineffective in shortening the second stage of labor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Teaching and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. olusapi506@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Olus
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Api
authors.forename: Muge Emeksiz
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Balcin
authors.forename: Vedat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ugurel
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Api
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Unal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007748:Labor Stage, Second; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011312:Pressure; D013997:Time Factors; D014599:Uterus
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen