title: Maternal obesity and contraction strength in the first stage of labor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether maternal obesity is associated with cesarean delivery and decreased contraction strength in the first stage of labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied a retrospective cohort of women who delivered within a single healthcare system from 2007-2009; we included 5410 women with an intrauterine pressure catheter during the last 2 hours of the first stage of labor and who either had a vaginal delivery or cesarean delivery for dystocia. Logistic regression was used to determine how body mass index was associated with cesarean delivery or mean Montevideo units of ≥200.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although obese women were at significantly greater odds of cesarean delivery than normal-weight women (odds ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-3.1), they were equally able to achieve Montevideo units of ≥200. Among women with a vaginal delivery, obese women had a longer first stage of labor compared with normal-weight women (597 vs 566 min; P = .003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obese women have longer labors but are equally able to achieve adequate Montevideo units as normal-weight women.
authors: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USA. jeanette.chin@hsc.utah.edu
authors: Jeanette R
authors: JR
authors: Chin
authors: Erick
authors: E
authors: Henry
authors: Calla M
authors: CM
authors: Holmgren
authors: Michael W
authors: MW
authors: Varner
authors: D Ware
authors: DW
authors: Branch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007747:Labor Stage, First / Q000502:physiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000502:physiology*