Association of vaginal delivery efforts with retinal disease in women with type I diabetes.
Available online through MWHC library: 2013 to the present
CONCLUSION: With close follow-up and good glycemic control, expulsive efforts in the second stage of labor do not affect the progression of retinopathy in women with type I DM. Our data support the premise that pregnant women with type I DM and stable retinopathy should not be denied vaginal delivery, if otherwise not contraindicated. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the second stage of labor affects the progression of retinopathy in women with type I diabetes mellitus (DM). RESEARCH AND DESIGN: The study is a secondary analysis of 192 pregnant women with type I DM who participated in an interdisciplinary diabetes in pregnancy intervention program between 1978 and 1993. Evaluation for diabetic retinopathy (DR) was performed each trimester and 6-12 weeks postpartum by the same two ophthalmologists. Women were divided into three groups: (i) elective cesarean delivery (n=60), (ii) cesarean delivery prior to the second stage of labor (n=69) and (iii) vaginal or cesarean delivery in the second stage (n=63). Progression of DR during pregnancy and between pregnancy and postpartum was compared among the groups. RESULTS: Maternal demographics, glycemic control and pregnancy complications were similar among groups. Progression of retinopathy from early and late pregnancy to postpartum did not differ between the three groups.