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Delay in second stage

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The second stage of labour should last no longer than:

  • 1 hour in the primigravida
  • 30 min in the multigravida

Likely causes of delay are:

  • poor uterine contractions and poor voluntary pushes
  • resistant pelvic floor and perineum (this is treated by episiotomy rather than forceps)
  • large foetus
  • arrest of the head in an occipitoposterior or transverse orientation
  • face or brow presentation
  • contraction of the pelvic outlet

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