What cervical dilatation rate during active labour should be considered abnormal?
The present study tested the common notion of slow labour that only dilatation rates of 1 cm/h and above lead to normal (intervention free) delivery. We examined all primiparous spontaneous term labours cared for in our hospital over a 1 year period when a protocol for intervention in the case of slow dilation rate was not in place. Of 505 consecutive singleton labours, 105 (20.6%) progressed at an overall cervical dilatation rate of less than 1 cm/h. However, only those progressing at 0.5 cm/h and less (n = 52 or 10.3% of the total) had significantly increased rates of oxytocin usage and of caesarean section. The data suggest that there may be a more conservative definition of slow labour.
Perl
F M
FM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Hunter
D J
DJ
D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004420:Dystocia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors
D010121:Oxytocin