Maternal and Neonatal Complications With Prolonged Second Stage of Labor

Fouzia Razzaque, Nasreen Fatima

Abstract

Objective

To find out the maternal and neonatal complications in prolonged second stage of labor.

Study design

Cross sectional study.

Place & Duration of study

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Karachi, from August 2022 to February 2023.

Methods

Women with a singleton pregnancy, of 37-weeks or more gestation period, fetus in cephalic presentation and active phase of labor, were included. Data of maternal outcomes like postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), chorioamnionitis, perineal laceration, and fetal outcomes like low Apgar score, birth asphyxia and admission to NICU, were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20. Chi-square or Fischer exact tests were applied post-stratification to find out the statistical significance between the stage of labor and complications.

Results

A total of 151 patients were included by non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Maternal complications found PPH in 15 (10%), chorioamnionitis in 30 (20%), and perineal lacerations occurred in 35 (23%) women. Low Agar score at birth was noted five (3%), birth asphyxia in four (2.9%) newborns and 16 (11%) babies were admitted to the NICU.

Conclusion

Increased duration of labor in the second stage was found to be associated with number of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. However, these were easily managed.

Key words

Second stage of labor, Maternal outcomes, Perinatal outcomes, Postpartum hemorrhage, NICU admission.