"Labor is an intensely strenuous activity with the uterine muscle contracting every few minutes to reposition a baby through the pelvis and down the birth canal. Even low levels of dehydration can seriously compromise normal physiological function yet recent studies looking at hydration in laboring women via the rates of intravenous IV fluid showed conflicting results. By pooling the data of several studies Thomas Jefferson University http researchers showed that a higher rate of IV fluids not only decreased csection rates but also shortened the overall length of labor by one hour as well as shortened the pushing phase. The results were published online as an accepted article https in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. The results are compelling and strongly argue for a change in practice says Vincenzo Berghella M.D. the Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. We have already begun changing practice at Jefferson http to give women more fluids in labor to allow them to have the best chance of delivering vaginally.  Dr. Berghella and colleagues compiled data from seven small clinical trials that collectively included a total of  women. Of those about half or  women received IV fluids at a rate of  milliliters per hour and the other half  women received fluids at the lower rate of  milliliters per hour. General practice in the United States is to administer IV fluids at  milliliters per hour during labor. With the data pooled the researchers could see a clear difference in outcomes for women in the two groups. Women getting the faster fluid rate  milliliters per hour were less likely to get a cesarean section. The higher fluid rate also reduced the overall time of labor by an average of  minutes and shortened the pushing phase by nearly  minutes on average.  Weve known that its important for women to stay well hydrated during pregnancy and labor. This study suggests that IV fluids could help women maintain hydration at appropriate levels reduce the likelihood of csection and decrease length of labor says Dr. Berghella. Recently we also showed that letting women eat more liberally in labor httpblogs.jefferson.eduatjeffinthenewsnewstudyshowseatingduringlaborcanbesafeforwomen especially in early labor has benefits including shorter labor and no identifiable risks. Today approximately one in three births in the United States occurs via csection despite an increased attention by national and international obstetric societies on safely reducing the practice. This study and others are providing evidence for changes in obstetric practice that could help safely reduce csection rates. Drs. Ehsanipoor Saccone Seligman PierceWilliams and Ciardulli were the coinvestigators with Dr Berghella. The authors report no conflicts of interest.  Article reference R.M. Ehsanipoor. et al. Intravenous Fluid Rate for Reduction of Cesarean Delivery Rate in Nulliparous Women A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. doi .aogs.. . About Jefferson http  Jefferson through its academic and clinical entities of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health including Abington Health and Aria Health is reimagining health care for the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey. Jefferson has  people dedicated to providing the highestquality compassionate clinical care for patients educating the health professionals of tomorrow and discovering new treatments and therapies to define the future of care. With a university and hospital that date back to  today Jefferson is comprised of six colleges nine hospitals  outpatient and urgent care locations and a multitude of physician practices throughout the region serving more than  inpatients  emergency patients and . million outpatients annually."