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

• Published in: Birth
• Main Authors: Hildingsson, Ingegerd, Blix, Ellen, Hegaard, Hanne Kristine, Huitfeldt, Anette, Ingversen, Karen, Olafsdottir, Olof Asta, Lindgren, Helena
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2016
• Subjects: Length of labour; Physiological birth; Phases of labour; Country of birth; Home birth; Norway; Iceland
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10642/4477; https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12191

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 . acceptedVersion