Relationships between cold sensitivity in pregnant women and perinatal outcomes

Abstract

Purpose
This study examined relationships between cold sensitivity in women and perinatal outcomes using the cold sensitivity severity scale as a subjective and a laser tissue blood flowmeter as an objective parameter to measure cold sensitivity.
The subjects and Methods
This study involved measuring peripheral blood flow at the tip of the index fingers of both hands, and a questionnaire survey regarding cold sensitivity during non-pregnancy using a cold sensitivity scale which consisted of 4 factors and 8 items, involving 125 term pregnant women (76 primi- and 49 multiparas). Their course of pregnancy and delivery was transcribed from their medical records after childbirth.
Results
No significant difference was observed between the results of the cold sensitivity severity scale and peripheral blood flow in term pregnant women (r=-0.036, p=0.687). In primiparas who obtained high scores on the cold sensitivity severity scale, many of them had cervical dilation of 3 cm or less on hospital admission (p=0.014).
When the subjects were compared between groups with low and high peripheral blood flow, many subjects in the low-flow group had a low blood pressure (p=0.047) and low pulse rate (p=0.024) during pregnancy. In addition, a prolonged second stage of labor was frequently observed in primiparas in the low-flow group (p=0.016), and a low blood flow and higher age were indicated as factors contributing to a prolonged second stage of labor, even after eliminating the effects of confounding factors using logistic regression analysis.
Conclusion
Poor circulation during term pregnancy may contribute to a prolonged second stage of labor in primiparas. However, blood flow during term pregnancy and cold sensitivity during non-pregnancy were not associated with each other.