The appropriate oral intake for labouring women has long been a controversial issue among midwives and anaesthetists. Anaesthetists argue that any type of food and, to some extent, fluid consumption during labour, will increase a woman’s risk of gastric content aspiration if general anaesthesia is required. Many midwives believe that aspiration, being such a rare event with contemporary medical practice, is unlikely in the hands of a skilled obstetric anaesthetist. These midwives believe that labouring without any form of sustenance other than water or clear fluids may be detrimental for the woman, her baby and the progress of labour. To date, research has been unable to provide reliable information to support either side of this debate. This thesis presents a series of studies (three surveys and a comparative trial) designed to enhance the body of knowledge available for decisions about labouring women’s oral requirements. The surveys were conducted to describe the policies of hospitals in New South Wales, Australia, and the views and practices of anaesthetists and midwives regarding the oral intake of labouring women. The main findings of this thesis come from a comparative study conducted to explore the effect of eating or not eating food on labour and birth outcomes of 217 nulliparous women with low risk pregnancies, (Eating group = 123; Non-eating group = 94). The study employed a naturalistic approach to its design in order to capture the actual eating behaviour of labouring women rather than the manipulated approach used in a randomised control trial. The findings from this series of studies suggest women should be informed of the lack of evidence to support any dietary regime for labour, along with the possible risks and benefits, and allowed to make their own decisions about their oral intake needs for labour. Although this thesis has augmented knowledge, it has been unable to demonstrate that eating food during labour improves labour and birth outcomes. However, it did not find this practice to be harmful for mothers or babies. The lack of reliable research evidence on which to base practice decreases the ability of midwives to be assured of the ‘best practice’ for labouring women’s oral intake. Further research is essential to ascertain ‘best practice’ for this aspect of care. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Bibliography: leaves 284-298 / 4 microfiches (339 fr.) : / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Summary: Shows that foetal acidosis is related to prolongation of the QT interval, a change which cannot be accounted for in foetal heart rate. Describes the configuration and time constants of the foetal electrocardiogram both during labour and at the time of delivery in normal and acidotic subjects. Confirms that foetal acidosis during labour is associated with acidosis at the time of delivery and with clinical depression of the newborn infant / Thesis (M.D.)--Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, 1970

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2000. / Restricted until November 2001. Bibliography: leaves 51-55.

The purpose of this study was to develop and test an index of primigravidas' Performance Incongruency as represented by the difference between the scores on the two forms of the Schroeder Labor Locus of Control Scale (SLLOC). The first form measured primigravidas' expectations for control during labor and delivery. The second form indexed primiparas' perceptions of the actual control they had during their childbirth experience. The convenience sample of primigravida included 34 subjects from one prenatal clinic and 27 from another. Of this sample of 61, 50 delivered during the study and comprised the primipara sample. A descriptive design was used for validity and reliability estimates. The results indicated that the content validity of the pre-labor form of the SLLOC met the established criterion of 90% interrater agreement. Criterion validity estimates on both forms did not achieve the established criterion nor did the convergent-discriminant estimates of construct validity within the instrument. Convergent-discriminant validity external to the scale, however, approached the established criterion. Test-retest reliability estimates of the pre-labor form demonstrated stability (r = .81). The Internal subscale of both forms of the SLLOC was internally consistent with coefficient Alphas of .81 for the pre-labor form and .71 for the post-delivery form. The External-Chance subscale of both forms approached the criterion for internal consistency, but the External/Powerful Others subscale did not. The findings for the index of Performance Incongruency supported literature reports suggesting that primigravidae who had participated in childbirth education classes experienced less control than they had anticipated whereas those who had not participated in childbirth education classes experienced more than they expected.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1990.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1990. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1990.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1995.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brock University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 34-35).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1995.