Labor Pattern in South Indian Population: A Retrospective Study

Aim: Labor dystocia is one of the most common reasons for a lower segment cesarean section (LSCS). Recent research has revealed a significant shift in the rate of cervical dilatation and labor progression. There are no large studies to assess labour in this ethnic group, so this study was conducted to discover labour behaviour in women experiencing spontaneous labour in South India.

Materials and Methods: In our teaching hospital, a retrospective study was conducted. Labor was managed according to protocol, and a partogram was maintained. Data were extracted and analysed from case records.

Results: Labor progress was much slower than what was thought of. There was wide variability in the duration of labor. In contrast to friedmannscurve, all women did not follow a pattern of 1 cm/hr of cervical dilatation. Though the mean time to progress from 3 cms to 10 cms was 5 hours, even after 19 hrs of waiting women have delivered.

Conclusion: Many women took time up to the 95th percentile and some even crossed three times the median time to deliver. In contrast to friedmannscurve, all women did not follow a pattern of 1 cm/hr of cervical dilatation. Though the mean time to progress from 3 cms to 10 cms was 5 hours, even after 19 hrs of waiting women have delivered.