Abstract

Aims: To assess the influence that fetal head position has on induction, labor and delivery outcome for both mother and baby.

Methods: During a one month period, in November 1999, all women attending for a post-dates scan were enrolled as the study population. In total, 91 women formed our study population for analysis of data. The sonographic, induction and labor details of all women were recorded on a dedicated data sheet. As well as documenting the maternal age, parity, liquor volume (mm) and BPS, the position of the fetal head was noted by the sonographer as occipitoanterior, occipitotransverse or occipitoposterior. All women had gestation confirmed by ultrasound early during the course of their pregnancy. Maternal, ultrasonographic, induction and labor variables were correlated with fetal head presentation at scan.

Results: There was no positive correlation found between fetal head position at the term plus 12 scan and associated induction, labor or delivery complications in the 91 women studied.

Conclusions: Our study shows no positive correlation between fetal head position and induction, labor or delivery complications.