Perinatal Outcome in Cesarean and Vaginal Delivery in Meconium-stained Amniotic Fluid

Background: Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is a frequent obstetrical disorder accompanied with adverse outcomes. The objective of this study is to assess fetal outcome in relation to mode of delivery in pregnant women complicated by meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Methods: This study was an observational cross-sectional study implemented in High risk and Labor ward of Maternity Teaching Hospital in Erbil city-Kurdistan region/Iraq through the period of one year from 1st of May 2022 to 30th of April 2023 on two hundred pregnant women with meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Maternal factors such as status of membrane, and grade of meconium were assessed. Fetal assessment by APGAR score, birth weight and outcome were analyzed. Fetal follow up continued for one week after birth Results: Severity and incidence of Meconium staining was classified into; light (28.5%), moderate (51.5%) and thick (20%). Cesarean section delivery was more obvious among pregnant women with latent phase of labor (50%) (p<0.001). The thick meconium was highly related to cesarean section delivery (30.9%), low fetal APGAR score at 1minute (40%), low fetal APGAR score at 5 minutes (11%) and high neonatal intensive care unit admission rate (90%) (p<0.001). This study also showed a significant relationship between low fetal APGAR score at one minute and high (72.5%) neonatal intensive care unit admission (p=0.05) among pregnant women with meconium-stained amniotic fluid delivered by cesarean section (p<0.001). Conclusions: The thick meconium-stained amniotic fluid and cesarean section delivery are related to poor perinatal fetal outcomes.