Title: Perinatal outcome in relation to the duration of the second stage of labor.

POPLINE Document Number: 277015

Author(s):

Abdel-Kareem AF
Hamza SM
Ramy AR

Source citation:

Egyptian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2000 Apr-Jun;26(4-6):501-508.

Abstract:

The second stage of labor has been thought of as a time of particular asphyxial risk for the fetus. The perceived risk has been invoked to justify arbitrary time limits and high rates of operative vaginal delivery. The aim of this study was to determine whether perinatal outcome worsened as the second stage of labor lengthened. Over 1 year period, 300 nulliparous women reached the second stage of labor with a live singleton cephalic fetus with birth weight ò22500 gm. The perinatal morbidity and mortality was related to the duration of the second stage of labor. The second stage lasted > 2 hours in 3.33% of nulliparous women and > 2.5 hours in 0.66%. There was no significant relationship between second stage duration and low 5-minutes Apgar score, neonatal seizures, or admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. The present study reached a conclusion that operative intervention in the second stage of labor is not warranted merely because some set number of hours has elapsed. (author's)

Keywords:

Egypt
Research Report
Clinical Research
Prospective Studies
Women in Development
Pregnant Women
Fetus
Perinatal Mortality
Childbirth
Time Factors
Pregnancy Outcomes
Africa, Northern
Africa
Developing Countries
Research Methodology
Studies
Economic Development
Economic Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Mortality
Population Dynamics