How Long Is a Normal Labor? Contemporary Patterns of Labor and Birth in a Low-Risk Sample of 1,612 Women from Four Nordic Countries
Hildingsson, Ingegerd; Blix, Ellen; Hegaard, Hanne Kristine; Huitfeldt, Anette; Ingversen, Karen; Olafsdottir, Olof Asta; Lindgren, Helena
Peer reviewed, Journal article
Accepted version
Date
2015-10-15Metadata
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Abstract
Objective: Normal progress of labo
u
r is a subject for discussion among professionals. The
aim of th
is
study was to assess
the
length of labour in women with a planned
home birth
and
spontaneous onset who gave birth at home or in hospital after transfer.
Methods
: This is a population
-
based study of
home birth
s in four Nordic countries (Denmark,
Iceland, No
rway and Sweden). All midwives assisting at a
home birth
from
200
8
-
2013 were
asked to provide information about
home birth
s using a questionnaire.
Result
s:
B
irth data from 1612 women, from
Denmark, (
n=
1170),
Norway (n=263) Sweden
(n=138), and Iceland (n=41)
was included
.
The total
median
length from onset of labour until
the
birth of the baby was
approximately
14
hours for primiparas and
7
.
2
5 hours for
multiparas. The length of the different phases varied bet
ween countries. Blood loss > 1000 ml
and perine
a
l
ruptures that needed suturing were
associated with a longer pushing
phase
and
the latter with country of residence, parity, single status and
the
baby’s weight
.
Conclusion: In this population of healthy women with a low prevalence of interventions the
total length of
labour
was
fairly similar
to
what is described in the literature
for multiparas, but
longer for primiparas
.
Although the
length of the phases of labo
ur
differed
among
countries
,
it
was
to a minor extent associated with severe outcome
s
.