Out-of-Hours Delivery and Pregnancy Outcomes Among Low-Risk Parturients in a Hospital Without Advanced Fetal Surveillance Technology

Abstract

Purpose: The effect of out-of-hours delivery on obstetric and perinatal outcomes in centres without advanced fetal surveillance has not been fully explored.

Methods: Pregnancy, labour, and neonatal outcomes were compared for women who delivered ‘out-of-hours’ (00:00 – 07:59 hours) or at other times/‘within-hours’ (08:00 – 23:59 hours).

Results: Twenty-nine percent of the women studied had out-of-hours’ deliveries. Women who had reduced perception of fetal movements had more babies out-of-hours. Hypertensive disease in pregnancy and occurrence of at least one adverse obstetric outcome were associated with lower odds of out-of-hours’ birth. The mean duration of labour augmentation (minutes) was significantly longer in women who had out-of-hours’ delivery (p = 0.032). Vaginal birth (p < 0.001), fifth-minute APGAR scores at least 7 (p = 0.038), and augmentation of labour (p = 0.041) occurred commonly out-of-hours. 

Conclusion: There was no evidence of poorer outcomes with out-of-hours’ births despite the absence of advanced fetal surveillance technology.