Fetal Sex and Maternal Stature vs. Spontaneous Vaginal Birth: Considering Sex Specific State-of-the-Art Anthropometric Investigations at Term Pregnancy

Objectives: We considered maternal and birth anthropometric features and fetal sex in developing a labor protocol.Materials and Method: A prospective study of ۴۰۰ mothers, having healthy pregnancies and their newborn singletons in gynecology ward of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. The study adopted a convenient sampling technique to select the volunteers from ۱st July to December, ۲۰۲۰. Birth and maternal anthropometries; BMI, height, weight, birth head girth (BHG), waist girth (WG), hip girth (HG) and delivery outcomes: birth mode and duration of ۱st and ۲nd phases of labor, and Apgar score at ۱ minute of birth were measured, using Institute of Medicine guidelines.Results: Maternal age, weight and HG, and WG at term pregnancy and fetal sex could determine birth mode and weight (P<۰.۰۵). The associations for duration of ۱st phase of labor and maternal and birth anthropometries were inconsistent. Fetal sex, birth mode and features and maternal anthropometries; body fat, age, BMI and HG were associated with duration of ۲nd phase of labor and Apgar score. Conclusions: Maternal anthropometries predispose birth features, and advance age of mothers, relatively large WHR and fetal macrosomia at term pregnancy could increase duration of ۲nd phase of labor and risk of a male birth, developing abnormal Apgar score. The strong association between anthropometric variables of a mother and her baby suggests that anthropometric investigations could enhance the choice of birth mode and minimize vaginal birth complications. The study emphasized on the need of a sex specific state-of-the art anthropometric investigations at term pregnancy.

Keywords:

Medical Anthropologist , APGAR Score , Labor protocol , Waist Gait , Vagina