The Use of Ultrasound in Labor, in Obese, and in Diabetic Patients

Assessment of the progression of labor is traditionally based on clinical findings (cervical dilatation, fetal head station and position), reported on the portogram to evaluate their modification over time. However, these evaluations are subjective and have low accuracy; this is why through the years clinicians have started to look for a more reproducible method to standardize the assessment of women in labor: the ultrasound. Ultrasound is, indeed, a well-known tool for obstetricians, but in the context of the labor, many improvements and studies are needed yet. Obesity and diabetes are two frequent and concerning conditions in our population that can have severe implications with the whole pregnancy and with the outcomes of the labor; on the other hand, these complications of pregnancy, especially obesity, represent a challenging issue in obtaining good ultrasound images: this is why the use of ultrasound in labor for this patients deserves a few specific considerations.