Prolonged labour attributed to large fetus

The aim of this study is to assess the interactive dynamics of power, passe nger and passage in relation to an adverse course of labour. The design was a community-based follow-up of all women with singleton pregnancies experi encing spontaneous term labour. Median of first stage was 2.6 h for multipa ras and 3.7 h for primiparas, Median of second stage was 20 min for multipa ras and 91 min for primiparas Heavy birth weight significantly influenced a prolonged late first stage OR 6.6 (Cl 2.1-21) and second stage of labour O R 4.5 (Cl 1.5-14) among primiparas. The attributable proportions of heavy b irth weight for prolonged labour were 19-21%, Large paediatric head circumf erence showed a positive correlation to prolonged late first stage OR 3.2 ( CI 1.2-9) and intervention OR 7.2 (Cl 1.8-35), with an attributable proport ion of 22%, For multiparas no significant association were found. To conclu de, this study indicates that heavy birth weight and large head circumferen ce contribute to 1/5th of the prolongation of labour and interventions amon g primiparas. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.