DURATION OF LABOR IN PATIENTS DELIVERED VAGINALLY AFTER ONE PREVIOUS LOWER SEGMENT CESAREAN-SECTION

OBJECTIVES. To determine the presence or significance of labor patterns in women attempting vaginal birth after a previous cesarean. METHODS. This prospective study was performed for patients who have only had one prior birth by cesarean section. Eighty-four women who had a cesarean section for failure to progress in labor had a trial of labor. RESULTS. Fifty-eight were delivered vaginally. This has been matched to nulliparous and multiparous controls. The duration of the first and second stages of labor were similar in the study group and controls. There was no significant difference in oxytocin requirements among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS, Patients who have had a previous cesarean section for failure to progress, have a duration of labor similar to primiparous patients.