DURATION OF LABOR IN PATIENTS DELIVERED VAGINALLY AFTER ONE PREVIOUS LOWER SEGMENT CESAREAN-SECTION

OBJECTIVES. To determine the presence or significance of labor pattern s in women attempting vaginal birth after a previous cesarean. METHODS . This prospective study was performed for patients who have only had one prior birth by cesarean section. Eighty-four women who had a cesar ean section for failure to progress in labor had a trial of labor. RES ULTS. Fifty-eight were delivered vaginally. This has been matched to n ulliparous and multiparous controls. The duration of the first and sec ond stages of labor were similar in the study group and controls. Ther e was no significant difference in oxytocin requirements among the thr ee groups. CONCLUSIONS, Patients who have had a previous cesarean sect ion for failure to progress, have a duration of labor similar to primi parous patients.