Publication:

Relationship and effect of duration of first stage of labor on second stage

Background Objective: To evaluate the relationship and effect of first stage of labor on second stage.

Methods It was a prospective, observational study. A total of 132 subjects with cephalic presentation at or from 4 cm dilatation with or without intact membrane were included in the study. Women with more than 4 cm dilation were excluded from the study. The duration and complications of second stage were correlated with the duration of first stage.

Results Out of 132 subjects, duration of labor was less than 3 hours in 79 subjects of which 52 (65.8%) had shorter (less than 30 minutes) second stage. The duration of first stage was between 6 and 9 hours in 10 subjects of which 9 (90% had longer (more than 30 minutes) second stage and 4 subjects had first stage lasting more than 9 hours of which 3 (75%) had second stage lasting more than 1 hour. These findings were statistically significant (P = 0.001). As the duration of first stage increased the incidence of instrumental delivery was also increased however this was statistically not significant.

Conclusions As the duration of first stage increases the duration of second stage and the incidence of instrumental/caesarean delivery increases.