Childbirth preparation and outcomes of labor and delivery in primiparous women.

Preparation for childbirth (Lamaze classes) is becoming an increasingly popular addition to patient education. This retrospective study investigates its effect on 64 primiparas in comparison with a control group who had not taken classes. The two groups were matched for age, antenatal risk scores, ethnic derivation, and socioeconomic status. No difference was found in the use of analgesia and anesthesia, the length of labor, type of delivery, incidence of fetal distress, infant birth weights, Apgar scores, or maternal and neonatal complications. However, there was a statistically significant increase in the use of oxytocin for augmentation of labor (P less than 0.01) in the prepared group.