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Prolonged Latent Phase |
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 Labor consists of
regular, frequent uterine contractions leading to progressive change in
the cervix. Usually, labors begin gradually, with very slow change up to
4 cm. This part of labor is called the latent phase. Latent phase labor
can last hours or days, but is usually measured in a few hours.Latent phase labor is considered abnormal (prolonged latent phase), if it lasts longer than:
Women with a prolonged latent phase risk exhaustion and an increased risk of uterine infection (chorioamnionitis). No single treatment of prolonged latent phase will necessarily be successful in nudging the patient into active phase labor, but each of the following have been successful in many patients: |
