STUDY OF NORMAL DELIVERY AND ITS MATERNAL AND FETAL OUTCOMES IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Shraddha Temurkar* and S. R. Wakode

ABSTRACT

Background: Normal delivery is safest for the fetus and the mother, when the newborn is full-term at the gestational age of 37 to 42 weeks. Vaginal delivery is preferred considering the morbidity and mortality associated with operative caesarean births has increased over time. Aims & objectives: To study the maternal & fetal outcomes in normal delivery & also to study the complications of normal delivery. Methods: A cross-sectional study in tertiary care centre of 546 antenatal women was conducted. Patient were evaluated with respect to age, education, gravida, socioeconomic status, current delivery details, such as the onset of labor, duration of labor, use of medications, and delivery outcomes, were documented meticulously. Maternal outcomes, including postpartum haemorrhage, perineal tears, and other complications, were recorded immediately and within 42 days post-delivery. Similarly, fetal outcomes, such as 81 Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes, the need for neonatal resuscitation, neonatal morbidity, and mortality within 28 days post-delivery, were also noted. Results: Majority 474 cases or 85.8%, did not experience any complications but the most common early complications were urinary retention, reported in 15 cases (2.8%), and postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), occurring in 14 cases (2.6%). The most common late complication was dyspareunia, affecting 28 cases (5.2%) of the total. Puerperal sepsis was reported in 5 cases (1%), while both breast engorgement and breast abscess were noted in 7 cases each, representing 1.3% each. The birth weight shows that a small fraction of newborns, specifically 3 cases or 0.6%, weighed less than 2 kg. Most of the newborns, accounting for 277 cases or 51.2%, had a birth weight between 2-2.5 kg. Additionally, 266 newborns, representing 48.2%, weighed more than 2.5 kg. Conclusion: Everyone thinks normal delivery is very easy and is not associated with any complications but every delivery is unique and need special attention for its better outcome. In most of the cases normal delivery is safe and has good maternal and fetal outcomes but in some cases it is associated with many complications and can affects her quality of life.

Keywords: PPH, APGAR SCORE, MORTALITY, MORBIDITY.