Statistical significance was ascertained using the X 2 test or Fisher’s exact test for differences in qualitative variables and the Student’s t-test for differences in continuous variables. In this study, we examined these clinical characteristics and outcomes by comparing patients with precipitous labor and those with labor of normal duration in 0 and two-parous women. The following clinical characteristics and outcomes were analyzed: parity maternal age gestational age birth weight maternal complications such as hypertensive diseases, glucose intolerance placental abruption oxytocin use delivery modes neonatal Apgar score at 1 and 5 min umbilical artery pH postpartum hemorrhage requiring hemotransfusion perineal tears (severe perineal laceration: perineal laceration either third- or fourth-degree laceration) and cervical tears. Data were collected from the patients’ charts that consist of information collected directly after delivery by the midwives who examine the information routinely before entering it into the database. In our hospital, oxytocin has not been used in the routine for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage in cases of precipitous labor. Deliveries in this study occurred between the years 20 in the Japanese Red Cross Katsushika Maternity Hospital, one of main Perinatal Centers in Tokyo, Japan. Labor of normal duration is defined as expulsion of the fetus with 3 - 30 h after commencement of regular contractions in nulliparous women and 3 - 15 h after commencement of regular contractions in parous women, while prolonged labor is defined as expulsion of the fetus more than 30 h after commencement of regular contractions in nulliparous women and more than 15 h after commencement of regular contractions in parous women. In this study, therefore, we retrospectively examined our cases of precipitous labor to identify the clinical significance and perinatal outcome following precipitous labor.Ī retrospective population-based study was conducted comparing women with singleton precipitous labor and those with labor of normal duration. In their study, there were only nine nulliparous women (9.1% of all precipitous delivery) with precipitous delivery. For example, in an earlier study with 99 precipitous labors at term by Mahon et al, precipitous labor occurred mostly in multiparous women. However, limited information exists on maternal and perinatal outcome after precipitous labor, especially in nulliparous women. In addition, precipitous labor has been observed to be associated with the higher rate of placental abruption. Postpartum hemorrhage associated with uterine atony following short labor in multiparous women seems to be experienced often in the clinical setting. For example, the uterus that contracts with unusual vigor before labor may be likely to be hypotonic after delivery, with hemorrhage from the placental implantation as the consequence. The prevailing opinion has been that too rapid a labor can result in maternal injury and place the fetus at risk for traumatic or asphyxia insults. It has been supposed to result from an abnormally low resistance of the soft pass of birth canal, from abnormally strong uterine and abdominal contractions, or rarely from the absence of painful sensations. It is defined as expulsion of the fetus within less than 3 h of commencement of regular contractions.

Precipitous labor is extremely rapid labor and delivery. Their hospital stay may be longer than with a spontaneous labour.Not only can labor be too slow, but it also can be abnormally rapid. Pharmacological methods of induction can cause hyperstimulation – this is when the uterus contracts too frequently or contractions last too long, which can lead to changes in fetal heart rate and result in fetal compromiseĪn induced labour may be more painful than a spontaneous labour There may be a need for an assisted vaginal birth (using forceps or ventouse), with the associated increased risk of obstetric anal sphincter injury (for example, third- or fourth-degree perineal tears) There may be limitations on the use of a birthing pool Their choice of place of birth will be limited, as they may be recommended interventions (for example, oxytocin infusion, continuous fetal heart rate monitoring and epidurals) that are not available for home birth or in midwife-led birth units Vaginal examinations to assess the cervix are needed before and during induction, to determine the best method of induction and to monitor progress

Definition of precipitate labour