title: Factors associated with a prolonged second state of labour--a case-controlled study of 364 nulliparous labours.
abstract: The aim of the study is to identify factors associated with a second stage of labour greater than 2 hours in nulliparous women delivering at term. It a retrospective case-control study of 182 women with a second stage less than 2 hours' duration, matched with 182 women with a second stage greater than 2 hours. Women with a short second stage of labour were significantly younger (mean age 23.2 vs. 24.9 years) and had significantly smaller babies (mean weight 3315 g vs. 3463 g) than women with a long second stage. Long duration of the second stage of labour was significantly associated with oxytocin and epidural use. The intervention rate did not rise above 50% until the second stage exceeded 5 hours duration. The fetal outcome was good in both groups of patients.
authors.affiliation: Coombe Women's Hospital, Dolphin's Barn, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Maclennan
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lindow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007748:Labor Stage, Second / Q000502:physiology*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin