Impact of Low-Dose Epidural Analgesia on Labour Progression in Low-Risk Women

Impact of Low-Dose Epidural Analgesia on Labour Progression in Robson Class 1 Women: a Retrospective Study

Aim of the study was to analyse data on cervical dilation and fetal descent patterns in low-risk women, who did or did not receive intermittent low-dose epidural analgesia (EA), and who had either a vaginal or a caesarean delivery.

Therefore, we conducted a retrospective analysis, retrieving data from October 1st 2008 to October 31st 2018. We selected 6030 women categorized as Robson Group 1, divided into four groups according to the mode of delivery (vaginal or caesarean) and the presence of EA:

• Vaginal delivery with EA (VD-e)
• Vaginal delivery without EA (VD-n)
• Caesarean delivery with EA (CD-e)
• Caesarean delivery without EA (CD-n)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Robson class 1 (nulliparous, single, cephalic full-term pregnancy with spontaneous labour)
• maternal age between 18 and 40 years
• neonatal weight between 2500 and 4000 grams
• cervical dilation <7 cm at admission in the delivery suite

Exclusion Criteria:

• minimal duration of labour < 3 hours (from admission to the delivery suite to delivery)