Skip to main content

Birth ball for pregnant women in labour research protocol: a multi-centre randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background

Birth ball is one of the non-pharmacologic pain relief methods to help mothers cope with the labouring process. A randomised controlled trial (RCT) is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness, safety and harm of birth ball use by pregnant women in labour compared to treatment as usual group.

Methods

A prospective multi-centre randomised controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted in Obstetrics and Gynaecological units of five public hospitals in Hong Kong, China. Data will be collected from March 2016 onward for 2 years. The target population is Chinese women with an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy at gestational age of 37 to 42 weeks. Participants are randomised based on parity (nulliparous and multiparous) and type of labour onset (spontaneous and induced). Women in the intervention group are actively offered and taught how to use a birth ball; those in the control group receive the usual midwifery care. The target sample size is 512. The primary outcome measures are maternal pain intensity, satisfaction with pain relief, sense of control in labour, assisted delivery and satisfaction with childbirth experience. Labour pain relief is measured by visual analogue scale (VAS). Other outcomes will be measured through four different validated questionnaires. To control for potential cluster effects, a linear mixed model will be used. An intention-to-treat analysis is adopted and performed by researchers unknown to subjects’ group allocation.

Discussion

Results will provide rigorous scientific evidence for policy development and practice. We are using stratified randomisation according to potential confounders of parity and type of labour onset to give four possible combinations. If the results are favourable, it will facilitate systematic implementation to promote birth ball use for women in labour.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR), Registration number: ChiCTR-IIC-16008275, Date of registration 12 April 2016 (retrospectively registered), Date of enrolment of the first participant to the trial 1 March 2016.

Peer Review reports

Background

Pain relief in labour was identified by an overwhelming majority (78%) of consumer groups and researchers to be one of the most important topics related to pregnancy and childbirth [1]. Given the frequent adverse effects of pharmacological analgesia and the healthcare cost associated with their complications, there is an incentive to use non-pharmacologic pain relief methods for pregnant women [2, 3]. Non-pharmacological methods can ease sensations of pain in a number of ways, by promoting women’s wellbeing, comfort, and sense of control in labour [4]; and the birth ball is one of the methods to help mothers cope with the labouring process and childbirth.

The birth ball, also called fitball or swiss ball, is a large ball commonly with a diameter of 55 cm or 65 cm. It provides a soft surface for women to sit on or lean against while carrying out simple exercises. Birth ball exercises can directly relieve women’s physical pain by improving pelvic dimensions, mobility and foetal positioning [5,6,7]. Concurrently, women’s psychosocial wellbeing can be enhanced when they take an active role in their own care, thereby promoting a sense of control over their care and body postures, balance and coordination.

Three local observational studies [8,9,10] reported strong acceptability and high satisfaction (over 90%) among Chinese women in Hong Kong public hospitals, who used birth balls during labour. Evidence for the use of a birth ball by pregnant mothers and related childbirth outcomes is insufficient. Thus far, there has been one systematic review with meta-analysis and four randomised controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in four countries: Spain, Taiwan, Iran, and Brazil [11,12,13,14,15]. These RCTs have been small, totalling 220 subjects, and thus the true effect size of a birth ball on pain control would be difficult to calculate due to chance and bias.

According to the result of the systematic review, more rigorous RCTs are necessary to evaluate the effect of birth balls on pain relief [11]. Searches in the World Health Organisation International Clinical Trials Registry Platform using keyword ‘birth ball’, returned six RCTs with subjects ranges from 32 to 128 [16]. Large scale clinical trials with adequate statistical power are needed to examine the effects of birth ball use by women in labour on various maternal, neonatal and infant outcomes, and system outcomes such as healthcare cost.

Methods

A randomised controlled trial (RCT) is designed and the objective is to evaluate the effectiveness, safety and harm of birth ball use by pregnant women in labour compared to treatment as usual group. The research hypothesis is that participants randomised to the birth ball intervention group have better pain relief, higher satisfaction with pain control, higher sense of control in labour and higher satisfaction with childbirth experience, when compared to subjects in control group. This study protocol follows the SPIRIT checklist.

Study setting

Recruitment for the study is conducted in all three regions of Hong Kong to enhance the generalizability of the results: Hong Kong Island (Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital); Kowloon (Princess Margaret Hospital, Kwong Wah Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital); and the New Territories (Prince of Wales Hospital). The study was initiated in March 2016 and continues until the end of 2017. Figure 1 is a Consort flow diagram of the progress through the phases of a parallel randomised trial of the intervention and control group.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Consort flow diagram of the trial

Randomisation and strata

This study adopts a two-arm (birth ball and control) randomised intervention-control trial design with block randomisation, as this is the most robust method of minimising selection bias and strengthening statistical power. We further enhance statistical power by using stratified randomisation according to potential confounders of parity (nulliparous or non-nulliparous) and type of labour onset (spontaneous or induced) – two strata give four possible combinations. Allocation is concealed by using sequentially numbered opaque sealed envelopes (in four separate sets) that contain group assignments determined by computer-generated random sequences. A research officer gives the sealed envelope to the health care worker who is intended to carry out the intervention. No intervention if subject is assigned to control.

Sample size

Data to estimate sample size is only available from two randomised trials [13, 14]. Both trials have high risks of bias that likely lead to an overestimated effect size (Cohen’s d 0.90–1.34) in labour pain relief by birth ball, measured by visual analogue scale (VAS).

Without existing rigorous research enabling more accurate estimation of effect size, we re-calculated sample size with a conservative Cohen’s d of 0.25 in pain relief measured by VAS, alpha 0.05 and a power of 0.8. This was calculated using software G*Power (version 3.1.9.2). In order to have an equal number of participants in intervention and control groups, participants of each stratified block are further amended as 64 in each stratum. This gives a sample size of 512.

Inclusion & exclusion criteria

For safety reason, pregnant women who are admitted to the hospital for labour and vaginal birth will not be considered unless they meet all the inclusion criteria. 1) Chinese women able to provide informed consent; 2) singleton pregnancy in cephalic presentation planned for vaginal birth; 3) gestational age of 37 to 42 weeks admitted into a single room in labour unit, either in spontaneous active labour and the second stage not imminent, or for induction of labour; 4) uncomplicated past obstetrical and antenatal history enabling them to be under independent midwifery care.

The exclusion criteria are 1) Multiple pregnancy; 2) foetal mal-presentation contraindicating vaginal delivery; 3) complicated pregnancy requiring close monitoring and restricted mobilization; 4) Caesarean delivery planned for this pregnancy; 5) any of the contraindication to use birth ball listed for each hospital (slightly varies due to different setting).

Intervention and control

We recognise that the use of a birth ball is a complex intervention that changes the women’s usual care in several ways that some may consider confounding factors. Research suggests that splitting complex non-pharmacological pain relief methods into specific and placebo components may not be meaningful and may even produce false negative results [17]. Other non-pharmacological methods may include warm compresses, massage and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Women in the intervention group are first offered and taught how to use the birth ball, followed by other non-pharmacological and pharmacological options, upon the women’s requests and advice from midwives. The existence and nature of placebo and the specific purpose of the trial is not disclosed at enrolment similar to other trials [18, 19].

Midwives or physiotherapists with certified birth ball training (42–76 in trial hospitals) or who attended birth ball teaching classes, provide instructions on birth ball exercises and supervise the participants (and her labour support person if present) using a birth ball. Instructions on four groups of exercises adapted from the Taiwan trial [13] and local study with high satisfaction [9] are given: 1) sit on birth ball; 2) kneel and lean forwards to hug the birth ball with both arms; 3) squat down; 4) variations of the above exercises together with a labour support person. Due to time constraints, group 1 and 2 are taught first and, if there is limited time, group 3 and 4 are left out. Women are suggested to use the birth ball for a minimum of 15 min in the beginning, then subsequently according to their own preferences of posture, type of exercise and pattern.

Women in the control group receive the usual midwifery care, without the midwives actively teaching and proactively suggesting women the use of the birth ball. Other non-pharmacological pain relief methods may include warm compresses, massage and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. For ethical reasons, women in the control group can use the birth ball if they specifically request it. Their data remains in the control arm in intention-to-treat analysis.

Outcome measurements

A Cochrane systematic review reported a list of core outcomes for labour pain control, agreed through a wide consultation with researchers and consumer groups [1]. These outcomes include many important clinical and patient-relevant measures relating to the mother and baby. The data is collected from participants’ medical record and questionnaire. A summary of the primary outcomes and corresponding measurements is listed in Table 1.

Table 1 Summary of primary outcomes and measurements

Primary outcomes

A simple and rapid visual analogue scale (VAS) of a 10-cm horizontal line, subdivided evenly with marks. Scores range from 0 (no pain) to 10 (extreme pain) are rounded to the nearest 0.1 cm, based on the women’s perceptions of pain at the time of assessment and during the peak of the last contraction at various time points: 1) on admission; 2) pre- and post-analgesia; 3) during labour, minimally every 2–4 h according to the phase of labour; 4) within 2 h of childbirth. This scale is the most widely used pain assessment scale in other birth ball studies [8,9,10, 13, 14]. Other primary outcomes are:

  • Satisfaction with pain relief

  1. a.

    Modified satisfaction subscale from the American Pain Society – Patient Outcome Questionnaire (APS-POQ Modified) [20] is a 6-point scale (from ‘very dissatisfied’ to ‘very satisfied’) assesses women’s overall satisfaction of labour. The items regarding physicians are excluded.

  2. b.

    Additional questions on the willingness to use different analgesic methods in their next pregnancy and the most satisfied non-pharmacological method.

  • Sense of control in labour

A 29-item Chinese validated Labour Agentry Scale (c-LAS) [21, 22] is used. It has subjective statements such as ‘I felt confident’ and ‘I felt defeated’. Scores are given on a 7-point Likert scale (from ‘all the time’ to ‘almost never or never’).

  • Satisfaction with childbirth experience

Six Simple Questions (SSQ) [23, 24] assesses women’s satisfaction with care during childbirth. Items are scored on a 6-point scale (from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree’), giving an overall score.

Secondary outcomes

Other data we collect as secondary outcomes include effect (negative) on mother-baby interaction [25, 26], breastfeeding practices, delivery that require assisted vaginal birth and/ or Caesarean section, adverse effects of mother and infant, admission to special care baby unit or neonatal intensive care unit, five-minute Apgar score, and infant outcomes at longer term follow-up.

Demography and obstetrics data

Mothers’ demographic information is collected, such as maternal age, weight, height, socio-economic status, educational level, occupation, and marital status. Paternal age, occupation, and educational level are also noted. Other relevant obstetrical confounding factors of mothers on admission for labour – including parity, weeks of gestation, duration of labour prior to admission, degree of cervical dilation on admission and frequency of uterine contractions – are documented. During labour, information on any need for labour augmentation, foetal head position and status of amniotic fluid, are collected from medical records. Required infant data includes birth weight, gender, birth date, and body length. All the above information are recorded in the staff record form.

Statistical methods

Baseline characteristics of the two groups are compared by an ANOVA test for continuous variables and χ [2]-test for categorical variables. The primary outcomes are differences in the mean change of VAS pre- and post-intervention between birth ball and other control methods first on the list, and differences in total scores of APS-POQ modified, c-LAS and SSQ between groups. Secondary measures are differences in c-PBQ score and mode of delivery (assisted vaginal and caesarean); differences in proportions of breastfeeding, adverse effects, admission to special care baby unit or neonatal intensive care unit, five-minute Apgar score less than seven; and differences in cost.

To control for potential cluster effect, (e.g., participants by certain midwives) we will use a linear mixed model where the midwife is treated as a random effect. The basic model is a random intercept model with compound symmetry as the covariance structure. The data fitness is explored using alternative models, e.g., using different covariance structures, will be compared by the restricted maximum likelihood.

Intention-to-treat analysis is adopted and performed by researchers masked to subjects’ group allocation. A two-sided P value of 0.05 or less is considered statistically significant. Objective measures and clinical outcomes are validated independently by two researchers. To minimise missing data, research officers ensure complete data collection prior to subjects’ hospital discharge and remind subjects that a follow-up assessment takes place at 6 to 8 weeks post-partum.

Discussion

This study draws data from five different sites across Hong Kong, which will increase the generalizability of results and enable easier systematic adoption of the intervention in other non-trial units. With the large sample size, single-blinded and stratified randomisation design, the results we have will provide reliable data. We are using stratified randomisation according to potential confounders of parity (nulliparous or non-nulliparous) and type of labour onset (spontaneous or induced) – two strata give four possible combinations.

Taking ethical concerns into consideration, we are not forbidding women in the control group to use the birth ball if they request them, and vice-versa; we will not forcefully limit their other pain relief options. All the subjects from control group will remain in the control arm in the intention-to-treat analysis. This is regarded as a major limitation of the study that is not likely to be solved. Furthermore, since we aim to examine the effectiveness of the birth ball intervention as a whole in real clinical settings, these possible confounders are not intentionally separated out, as they are integral parts of birth ball application and implementation. Different hospitals have different cultures and settings, and hence this can lead to deviation in practice and therefore bias. To standardise the research protocol and administering of the intervention, meetings and training are given to the midwives at all study sites before and periodically during recruitment. There will be subgroup analysis in each hospital.

Other limitations of this study include the concomitant use of other non-pharmacological pain relief methods during labour. It is common for pregnant women to use several analgesic methods at the same time. Although the time and method of all the analgesic methods are noted, the outcome effects of using a birth ball would become difficult to measure. Besides, in a busy antenatal and labour ward, the completion of research data by midwives and staff would be less than expected. Our researchers follow-up each participant and ensure all the relevant information from the medical record is reviewed. Although it would be impossible to blind the midwives or physiotherapists who teach birth ball, all the researchers will not be disclosed the case or control status of participants in the ward and during data analysis.

Currently, birth balls are widely adopted in the delivery units in public and private hospitals in Hong Kong. Results from this study provide rigorous scientific evidence for policy development. If the results are favourable, it will facilitate systematic implementation to promote birth ball use for women in labour. Additionally, if proven effective and safe for mothers and babies, this simple non-invasive and non-pharmacological method can be used in delivery suites around the world, especially in low-resource settings at low cost to the healthcare system. Study results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, academic and press conferences, and community conventions.

This study will be the largest RCT on birth ball use for pregnant women in the world, with a total of 512 subjects. Our primary research questions include the effect of using the birth ball on pain intensity, satisfaction with pain relief and childbirth experience, and sense of control in labour. Results will provide rigorous scientific evidence for clinical practice and policy development.

Abbreviations

APS-POQ Modified:

Modified satisfaction subscale from the American Pain Society – Patient Outcome Questionnaire–Modified

ChiCTR:

Chinese Clinical Trial Register

c-LAS :

Chinese validated Labour Agentry Scale

RCT:

Rrandomised controlled trial

SSQ :

Six Simple Questions

VAS:

Visual analogue scale

References

  1. Jones L, Othman M, Dowswell T, Alfirevic Z, Gates S, Newburn M, Jordan S, Lavender T, Neilson JP. Pain management for women in labour: an overview of systematic reviews. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012(3):CD009234. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009234.pub2.

  2. American College of Nurse-Midwives. Supporting healthy and normal physiologic childbirth: a consensus statement by ACNM, MANA, and NACPM. J Perinat Educ. 2013;22(1):14–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. World Health Organization. Maternal and newborn health/safe motherhood unit. Care in normal birth: a practical guide. Geneva: World Health Organization. Birth. 1997;24(2):121–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hodnett ED. Pain and women's satisfaction with the experience of childbirth: a systematic review. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002;186(5 Suppl Nature):S160–S72.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lawrence A, Lewis L, Hofmeyr GJ, Dowswell T, Styles C. Maternal positions and mobility during first stage labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009;(2):CD003934. Review. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003934.pub2.

  6. Zaky NH. Effect of pelvic rocking exercise using sitting position on birth ball during the first stage of labor on its progress. IOSR J Nurs Health Sci (IOSR-JNHS). 2016;5(4):19–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Adachi K, Shimada M, Usai A. The relationship between the parturient’s positions and perceptions of labor pain intensity. Nurs Res. 2003;52(1):47–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Leung RW, Li JF, Leung MK, Fung BK, Fung LC, Tai SM, et al. Efficacy of birth ball exercises on labour pain management. Hong Kong Med J. 2013;19(5):393–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hau WL, Tsang SL, Kwan W, Man LSK, Lam KY, Ho LF, et al. The use of birth ball as a method of pain management in labour. Hong Kong J Gynaecol Obstet Midwifery. 2012;12(1):63–8.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kwan WSC, Chan SW, Li WH. The birth ball experience: outcome evaluation of the intrapartum use of birth ball. Hong Kong J Gynaecol Obstet Midwifery. 2011;11(1):59–64.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Makvandi S, Latifnejad Roudsari R, Sadeghi R, Karimi L. Effect of birth ball on labor pain relief: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2015;41(11):1679–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Delgado-García BE, Orts-Cortés MI, Poveda-Bernabeu A, Caballero-Pérez P. Randomised controlled clinical trial to determine the effects of the use of birth balls during labour. Enferm Clín. 2012;22(1):35–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Gau ML, Chang CY, Tian SH, Lin KC. Effects of birth ball exercise on pain and self-efficacy during childbirth: a randomised controlled trial in Taiwan. Midwifery. 2011;27(6):e293–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Taavoni S, Abdolahian S, Haghani H, Neysani L. Effect of birth ball usage on pain in the active phase of labor: a randomized controlled trial. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2011;56(2):137–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Barbieri M, Henrique AJ, Chors FM, Maia NL, Gabrielloni MC. Warm shower aspersion, perineal exercises with Swiss ball and pain in labor. Acta Paul Enferm. 2013;26(5):478–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. World Health Organization. International Clinical Trials Registry Platform -- Search Portal version 3.3. Available at http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/Default.aspx. Retrieved August 14, 2017.

  17. Paterson C, Dieppe P. Characteristic and incidental (placebo) effects in complex interventions such as acupuncture. BMJ. 2005;330(7501):1202–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Boutron I, Guittet L, Estellat C, Moher D, Hrobjartsson A, Ravaud P. Reporting methods of blinding in randomized trials assessing nonpharmacological treatments. PLoS Med. 2007;4(2):e61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Madden K, Middleton P, Cyna AM, Matthewson M, Jones L. Hypnosis for pain management during labour and childbirth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;11:CD009356.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Ware JE Jr, Snyder MK, Wright WR, Davies AR. Defining and measuring patient satisfaction with medical care. Eval Program Plann. 1983;6(3–4):247–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Hodnett ED, Simmons-Tropea DA. The labour Agentry scale: psychometric properties of an instrument measuring control during childbirth. Res Nurs Health. 1987;10(5):301–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Cheung W, Ip WY, Chan D. Maternal anxiety and feelings of control during labour: a study of Chinese first-time pregnant women. Midwifery. 2007;23(2):123–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Harvey S, Rach D, Stainton M, Jarrell J, Brant R. Evaluation of satisfaction with midwifery care. Midwifery. 2002;18(4):260–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Sawyer A, Ayers S, Abbott J, Gyte G, Rabe H, Duley L. Measures of satisfaction with care during labour and birth: a comparative review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2013;13:108.

  25. Brockington IF, Fraser C, Wilson D. The postpartum bonding questionnaire: a validation. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2006;9(5):233–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Siu BW, Ip P, Chow HM, Kwok SS, Li OL, Koo ML, Cheung EF, Yeung TM, Hung SF. Impairment of mother-infant relationship: validation of the Chinese version of postpartum bonding questionnaire. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2010;198(3):174–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the input and participation of frontline staff from research sites in the hospitals and support at the university. Special thanks to Chao Ngan CHAN, Macy CHAU, Min Whui FONG, Brigitte Kim Yook FUNG, Po Lan IU, Sui Wah SIN, Chu SING, Siu Ling TSANG, Wing Chi LAU, Wai Ling LEUNG and many others who have contributed to various parts of the study.

Funding

The research and publication was supported by the Health and Medical Research Fund from the Food and Health Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong, China with project code HMRF12131001. The funding body did not have any role in the study design, data analysis, manuscript preparation and submission.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

MY, KT and SC drafted the manuscript. KT, BY, WT, WI, FH, MW, JN, SL contributed to the conception or design of the research. MY, KT, BY, WT, WI, FH, MW, JN, SL, SC, CL and SW formulated and revised the research protocol critically for important intellectual content. MY and BY reviewed the statistical methods and calculations. MY, KT, BY, WT, WI, FH, MW, JN, SL, SC, CL and SW reviewed the drafts and approved the final version of the article. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to May Pui Shan Yeung.

Ethics declarations

Authors’ information

Not applicable.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The trial has ethical approval from the Joint Chinese University of Hong Kong - New Territories East cluster Clinical Research Ethics Committee (on 18 June 2014, CREC Ref. No.: 2014.189-T). In addition, ethical approval from each of the study hospitals has been obtained, including the Clinical Research Ethics Committees (REC) of Hong Kong East Cluster (on 6 August 2014, Ref.: HKEC-2014-035), Kowloon West Cluster (on 22 September 2014, KWC-REC Ref.:KW/FR-14-088(74–10)) and Kowloon Central / Kowloon East Cluster (on 10 May 2017, Ref.:KC/KE-16-0247/ER-1).

We have obtained ethical approval from Clinical Research Ethics Committees responsible for each of the study hospitals prior commencement. All our eligible subjects are informed that this is a study on non-pharmacological pain relief methods, the nature of the intervention and control are provided after their involvement in the study is finished. When obtaining written and oral informed consent, we emphasise that ethical approval has been granted and opportunity for opt-out. We assure women that they can request the analgesic methods available in the hospital. An information sheet of the study with contact details, is provided for further enquiry. All subject’s information will be kept in a personal file and collected in a locked office with limited access. The electronic data will be saved in password-protected files.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yeung, M.P.S., Tsang, K.W.K., Yip, B.H.K. et al. Birth ball for pregnant women in labour research protocol: a multi-centre randomised controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 19, 153 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2305-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2305-8

Keywords