TABLE 3.
Demographic and Pregnancy Characteristics of the Study Population
Epidural Analgesia | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
≤99.5°F | 99.6°F–100.4°F | 100.5°F–101°F | >101°F | P | |
(n = 1538) | (n = 711) | (n = 297) | (n = 238) | ||
n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | ||
Demographic characteristics | |||||
Mean maternal age in years (± SD) | 29.4 (±5.9) | 30.1 (±5.2) | 30.6 (±5.7) | 30.1 (±5.5) | .001 |
Welfare recipient | 203 (13.2) | 82 (11.5) | 33 (11.1) | 26 (10.9) | .5 |
Smoker | 99 (6.4) | 38 (5.3) | 20 (6.7) | 11 (4.6) | .5 |
Pregnancy and labor characteristics | |||||
Mean birth wt in grams (± SD) | 3421 (±434) | 3548 (±423) | 3568 (±403) | 3578 (±383) | <.0001 |
Median length of labor in hours (range) | 11 (0.9–60.4) | 14.2 (3.2–52.7) | 15.4 (3.6–45.0) | 16.3 (5.8–57.2) | <.0001a |
Premature rupture of membranes | 457 (29.7) | 223 (31.4) | 97 (32.7) | 61 (25.9) | .3 |
Use of Pitocin | 1113 (72.4) | 583 (82.0) | 258 (86.9) | 207 (87.0) | <.0001 |
Fetal distress | 204 (13.3) | 89 (12.5) | 38 (12.8) | 41 (17.2) | .3b |
Delivery | |||||
Spontaneous vaginal delivery | 1033 (67.2) | 411 (57.8) | 157 (52.9) | 100 (42.0) | <.0001 |
Cesarean delivery | 220 (14.3) | 125 (17.6) | 72 (24.2) | 72 (30.3) | |
Forceps | 88 (5.7) | 54 (7.6) | 24 (8.1) | 17 (7.1) | |
Vacuum | 197 (12.8) | 121 (17.0) | 44 (14.8) | 49 (20.6) |
P values refer to comparisons across the 4 groups. Based on χ2 for categorical variables and analysis of variance for continuous variables.
Kruskal-Wallis test for nonparametric variables.
Fetal distress or nonreassuring fetal status diagnosed by physician.