Duration of labor by gestational week in nulliparous women. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lurie, Samuel; Vinnikov, Yana; Boaz, Mona; Golan, Abraham; Sadan, Oscar
• Is Part Of: Journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine. Volume 27:Number 4(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 372
• Page End: 375
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Perinatology -- Periodicals; Infants (Newborn) -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neonatology -- Periodicals; 618.2
• DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2013.815720
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1476-7058

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Objectives</italic>: To assess whether labor length differs by week of gestation.</p> <p> <italic>Methods</italic>: In this observational cross-sectional study, we compared duration of labor by gestational age (36 + 0 through 40 + 6 weeks) in primiparous singleton parturients with vertex presentation. Data were acquired for a period of 24 months (2010–2011).</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: In general, the rate of change in cervical dilatation decreased as gestational week at delivery advanced: 1.8 ± 1.0 cm/h, 1.5 ± 0.9 cm/h, 1.3 ± 0.8 cm/h, 1.6 ± 1.5, and 1.3 ± 1.0 cm/h at 36th, 37th, 38th, 39th and 40th gestational week, respectively (<italic>p</italic> = 0.040). Concurrently, the total labor duration (1st + 2nd + 3rd stages) increased as gestational age advanced: 423.6 ± 180.9 min, 496.5 ± 212.6 min, 545.9 ± 247.1 min, 483.8 ± 256.3 min, and 568.2 ± 273.8 min at 36th, 37th, 38th, 39th and 40th gestational week, respectively (<italic>p</italic> = 0.013).</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic>: Gestational week of pregnancy may alter the duration of labor, specifically, the length of labor increases as gestational week at delivery advances.</p> </abstract>