delay in second stage
Last reviewed 01/2018
The second stage of labour should last no longer than:
- 1 hour in the primigravida
- 30 min in the multigravida
Likely causes of delay are:
- poor uterine contractions and poor voluntary pushes
- resistant pelvic floor and perineum (this is treated by episiotomy rather than forceps)
- large foetus
- arrest of the head in an occipitoposterior or transverse orientation
- face or brow presentation
- contraction of the pelvic outlet