The relationship between early admission in labor and the occurrence of obstetrical complications

Abstract

Objective(s): We evaluated the effect of the timing of admission in labor on the occurrence of obstetrical complications.Methods: The study involved a comparison between 460 low-risk nulliparous women who were admitted on labor unit in latent phase with 329 parturients admitted in the active phase with singleton pregnancy, intact membranes, and low risk as determined by their physicians according to the protocols of prenatal care.Results: There were more cesarean deliveries in the latent phase than in the active phase (64/5% vs24/3% P<0/0001) .The main reasons for cesarean delivery in the latent phase and active phase were dystocia and fetal distress. The rate of dystocia in the latent phase was greater than in the active phase. (32/6 % vs 24/3 % P=0/0048). The oxytocin dose was greater in the latent phase than in the active phase (1/1+_ 0/7 vs 0/18+-0/1).Conclusion: Our results show that more cesarean operations are performed in women admitted during the latent phase of labor.

Keywords

• active phase
• latent phase
• time of admission
• cesarean section