Fetal Intrapartum Pulse Oximetry: A Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial (the FOREMOST Trial)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$146,950.00
Summary
Current methods of monitoring the well-being of the unborn baby during labour often result in concern about the unborn baby's health. This leads to delivery by caesarean section, forceps , or vacuum. These babies are usually found to be healthy once born, meaning that the operation was unnecessry. In this study, when an unborn baby appears to be distressed, half of the study participants will be allocated to continue with the current monitororing of the baby's heartbeat. The other half will have ....Current methods of monitoring the well-being of the unborn baby during labour often result in concern about the unborn baby's health. This leads to delivery by caesarean section, forceps , or vacuum. These babies are usually found to be healthy once born, meaning that the operation was unnecessry. In this study, when an unborn baby appears to be distressed, half of the study participants will be allocated to continue with the current monitororing of the baby's heartbeat. The other half will have a new form of monitoring in labour, fetal oxgyen saturation monitoring, added. We will then determine whether the new form of monitoring makes a differnce in the number of times women need to have a caesarean section, forceps, or vacuum delivery. It is important to do this research BEFORE the new form of monitoring becomes used routinely. This Australian research is leading the world in letting the health consumer (women) know whether the new monitoring method is effective in practice and ensuring that there are no unforeseen adverse events.Read moreRead less