Corrective effects of maternal extreme flexure and hip abduction combined with contralateral side-lying on persistent foetal occipito-posterior position

Aims: To observe the corrective effects of maternal extreme flexure and hip abduction combined with contralateral side-lying on persistent foetal occipito-posterior position.

Background: Digital rotation and other methods are used for correction of a persistent foetal occipito-posterior position. However, digital rotation readily causes damage to mother and foetus, and the correction rates of other methods are low.

Design: In this observational study, pregnant women were randomly divided into 2 groups according to different postures and their outcomes were compared.

Methods: A total of 238 women with persistent foetal occipito-posterior position gave birth in our hospital between January 2015 and June 2017. Of these 238 cases, 12 women declined to participate. The 226 pregnant women were divided into study group (maternal extreme flexure and hip abduction combined with contralateral side-lying, n = 114) and control group (contralateral side-lying alone, n = 112).

Results: The correction and spontaneous labour rates were higher in the study group than in the control group (P < .05). The duration between initial and successful correction and birth process were shorter in the study group than in the control group (P < .05).

Conclusion: Maternal extreme flexure and hip abduction combined with contralateral side-lying has better correction effect on persistent foetal occipito-posterior position.