Active labor arrest
- First stage: between onset of labor and full cervical dilation
-
Latent: onset of labor to 6 cm cervical dilation
- Characterized by slower cervical change, can last up to 20 hours
-
Active: 6 cm to full cervical dilation
- Cervix should dilate 1.2–1.5 cm per hour
- No change for 4 hours with adequate contractions = arrest of labor —> C-section
- With oxytocin for inadequate contractions —> no change for 6 hours = arrest of labor—> C-section
-
Arrest of labor should not be diagnosed if membranes are not ruptured
-
Quantitative measure of adequate contractions?
-
200 Montevideo units as measured by an intrauterine pressure catheter.
