Dangers of prolonged labour
Prolonged labour suggests that labour has failed to progress normally, and is causing difficulties for the mother and child. Labour is said to have prolonged if it does not complete within 18 hours for first time mothers and 12 hours for mothers who have had a prior delivery.
What could cause prolonged labour?
- Inadequate intensity and frequency of uterine contractions.
- Overdistention of the uterus (in case a woman is carrying twins or a large baby),
- When the pelvis is not adequate for the passage of the baby’s head
- When the baby’s position in the uterus is not favourable.
- Some medications such as drugs used for epidural anaesthesia (for pain relief) may sometimes prolong labour, particularly in the second stage.
- In some rare cases, if one does not completely evacuate her bladder or bowels, it may cause failure of progress of labour.
Effects of prolonged labour
- Exhaustion of the mother
- Increased postpartum bleeding
- Increased chances of trauma to the genital tract.
- Increased chances of infection in the uterus.
- Decreased supply of oxygen to the baby,
- Increased chances of operative deliveries like forceps and vacuum.
The doctors will try and rule out the different causes of prolonged labour. They will assess your condition by checking your pulse, blood pressure, uterine activity and cervical dilation. They will also assess your baby’s condition and then try to hasten labour by augmenting it and rupturing the membrane.
END: PG 2/15