OBJECTIVE: To evaluate Demelin\'s maneuver for arm entrapment\'s dystocia during vaginal breech deliveries after failure of the usual Lovset maneuver.
METHODS: We led a retrospective cohort study in two French maternities. Between January 2013 and June 2020, we included all vaginal breech deliveries of live newborns after 32 weeks of gestation requiring Demelin\'s maneuver for persistent arm entrapment despite the Lovset maneuver. The primary endpoint was the Demelin\'s maneuver success without the existence of a neonatal trauma related to the maneuver.
RESULTS: Among 1611 vaginal breech deliveries, 29 with Demelin\'s maneuver for an arm entrapment were enrolled (prevalence 0,02%). No failure of this maneuver was found. There was 10 nulliparous (34.5%). Mean gestational age was 38±2.4 weeks of gestation. The success of Demelin\'s maneuver without trauma related to it was estimated at 82.8%. No serious neonatal trauma was noticed. Five fractures (17.2%), one humeral and four clavicular, without sequelae were diagnosed. Mean weight of newborns was 2945.5 grams and the median arterial pH was 7.17. The median 5-minutes-Apgar score was 10. Maternal morbidity was low: one case (3.4%) of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (type III).
CONCLUSIONS: Demelin\'s maneuver seems to be an effective and safe method to treat an arm entrapment\'s dystocia during vaginal breech delivery after failure of the Lovset\'s maneuver.

To assess the effect of a modified definition of dystocia and of a different timing of interventions during spontaneous labor on the rate of oxytocin use and on its consequences on labor outcome.
We compared oxytocin use and labor outcome before and after the introduction of a new protocol for the management of spontaneous labor. By protocol, oxytocin use and/or artificial rupture of the membranes was restricted to cases without progress in cervical dilatation for≥1h and/or no progress of fetal descent for≥1h at full dilatation. The main outcome measure was the rate of oxytocin use. Secondary outcome criteria were the consequences on labor (duration of labor, tachysystole and uterine hyperstimulation, abnormal fetal heart rate, cesarean delivery rate) and neonatal outcome.
Oxytocin use was strongly reduced from 2015 (69.2%) to 2016 (39.8%; P<0.01) and 2017 (31.9%; P<0.01). Abnormal FHR rates decreased simultaneously (respectively 52%, 37% et 29%, P<0.05), as well as uterine hyperstimulation (respectively 33.6%, 21.3% et 23.0%; P<0.05). The cesarean delivery rate did not vary significantly from 2015 (11.5%) to 2016 (8.4%; NS) but it decreased from 2015 to 2017 (11.5% to 2.6%, respectively; P<0.05). No difference was found in postpartum hemorrhage rates or in neonatal outcome. The duration of labor was significantly longer for women who delivered in 2017, compared with 2015 (372 minutes versus 306 minutes, respectively; P<0.05). After multivariate analysis, FHR abnormalities were reduced (aOR 0.65 IC 95% [0.49-0.86]) as well as cesarean deliveries during labor (aOR 0.5 IC 95% [0.26-0.97]) in 2017 only, compared with the reference year 2015.
A simple and easy-to-use definition of dystocia and of interventions required during labor allowed a strong reduction of oxytocin use during labor with subsequent benefits such as reduced rates of FHR abnormalities, uterine hyperstimulations and cesarean deliveries, at the cost of a limited prolongation of labor, mainly in nulliparous women.

To issue guidelines on management of labour induction and breech vaginal delivery.
Bibliographic search restricted to French and English languages using Medline database®, Cochrane Library and international guidelines of medical societies.
Breech delivery must take place in a maternity ward, in the presence of an obstetrician and gynaecologist and with the immediate availability of an anesthesiologist and a pediatrician during active second stage (Professional consensus). Term breech is not a contraindication to labour induction when the criteria for acceptance of vaginal delivery are met (Grade C). In this case, oxytocin or prostaglandins can be used (Grade C). Epidural analgesia with low concentrations of local anesthetics should be encouraged in case of vaginal delivery attempt (Professional consensus). It is recommended to use continuous monitoring of the CTG (Professional consensus). The use of second-line fetal monitoring is not recommended (Professional consensus). The administration of oxytocin is possible for labour augmentation (Professional consensus). It is better to start the expulsive efforts when the presentation is engaged as low as possible in the pelvic excavation (Professional consensus). Breech presentation is not an indication of episiotomy (Professional consensus). Due to insufficient data, it was not possible to make recommendations on specificities of preterm breech delivery.
In case of planned vaginal delivery, labour induction is possible for term breech fetuses, even with unfarable cervix. Guidelines for labour and vaginal delivery management have a low level of evidence.

OBJECTIVE: Polyhydramnios is associated with an increased risk of cesarean section. The aetiology of polyhydramnios and the characteristics of the labour may be confounding factors. The objective was to study the characteristics and mode of delivery in case of pregnancy complicated with idiopathic polyhydramnios.
METHODS: This retrospective matched and controlled study included all pregnant women with idiopathic polyhydramnios (amniotic index>25cm or single deepest pocket>8cm) diagnosed at the 2nd or 3rd trimester and persistent at term delivery (>37weeks of pregnancy) in our institution. We excluded pregnancies in which the polyhydramnios could be explained by infection, gestational diabetes, congenital malformation, abnormal karyotype, placental anomalies, alloimmunization as well as pregnancies in which an amniocentesis for the purpose of diagnosis had not been performed. Data were gathered from a tertiary care university hospital register from 1998-2015. Cases of polyhydramnios were matched with the following two women who presented for labour management with spontaneous cephalic presentation, matching for delivery date, maternal age, parity, body mass index. The main outcome measure was the risk of cesarean section. Univariate and multivariate adjusted analysis were performed.
RESULTS: We identified 108 women with idiopathic polyhydramnios and compared them with 216 matched women. Among them, 94 and 188 attempted a trial of labour. Maternal age, mean term delivery and birthweight were 31 years, 39+5weeks gestation and 3550 g. We did not observe differences in maternal characteristics, epidural analgesia and rate of abnormal fetal heart tracing. Induced labour and non-vertex presentations (forehead, bregma, face) were more frequent in the polyhydramnios group (respectively 57.9% versus 27.8%, P<0.05 and 7.8% versus 1%, P<0.05). Cesarean section rate was higher in the case of polyhydramnios in the overall population (45.4% versus 8%, P<0.05) and remained higher after exclusion of cases of induced labour and non-vertex presentation (38.4% versus 3.8%, P<0.05). Amniotomy was more frequent in pregnancies with polyhydramnios (55.8% versus 39.1%, P<0.05). After adjustment for matching and confounding variables, polyhydramnios was found to be a risk factor for cesarean section (OR 21.02; CI 95% 8.004-55.215, P<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Idiopathic polyhydramnios increased the risk of prolonged first stage of labour, non-vertex presentation and cesarean section.

The evolutionary history of modern birth mechanism is now a renewed interest in obstetrical papers. The purpose of this work is to review the literature in paleo-obstetrical field. Our analysis focuses on paleo-obstetrical hypothesis, from 1960 to the present day, based on the reconstruction of fossil pelvis. Indeed, these pelvic reconstructions usually provide an opportunity to make an obstetrical assumption in our ancestors. In this analysis, we show that modern birth mechanism takes place during the emergence of our genus 2 million years ago. References are made to human specificities related to obstetrical mechanism: exclusive bipedalism, increase of brain size at birth, metabolic cost of the pregnancy and deep trophoblastic implantation.

As a way to prevent maternal mortality and stillbirth, the dystocia risk score includes three components: a left column provides a list of eight characteristics to check for in the woman; an upper horizontal section provides a checklist of possible outcomes of the pregnancy itself: and a rectangular grid indicates the prognosis in three zones: a large red (dangerous), a medium-sized grey (doubtful) and a small blue (hopeful). The DRS is positive if there is at least one cross in the dangerous zone and/or two crosses in the doubtful zone (it indicates that the woman should be referred to a center specialized in obstetric emergency care); elsewhere, the DRS is negative. The validation test gives good results (sensitivity=83.61%, specificity=90.05%, positive predictive value=72.34%, and negative predictive value=94.04%). Its large-scale use would accelerate the identification of pregnant women with a high risk of dystocia. Their timely referral to specialized emergency obstetrics centers would increase the efficacy of care and reduce the levels of maternal mortality and stillbirth.