Table 14-1. Stages of Laborphase Dilation 10 cm (complete) cervical
dilationcm/hours
primipara
≥1.0
cm/hours
multipara
Stage 2 Descent Begins: 10 cm (complete) Ends: delivery of
babyDescent of the
fetus<3 hours in
primipara
<2 hours in
multipara
Add 1 hour
if epidural
Stage 3 Expulsion Begins: delivery of baby Ends: delivery of
placentaDelivery of
placenta<30 minutesStage 1 begins with onset of regular uterine contractions and ends with complete
cervical dilation at 10 cm. Identification when regular contractions began is
often imprecise. Stage 1 of labor is divided into a latent and an active phase.
Latent phase begins with onset of regular contractions and ends with the
acceleration of cervical dilation. Its purpose is to soften and efface the cervix
preparing it for rapid dilation
Minimal descent of the fetus through the birth canal occurs.
Rate of dilation is slower than previous studies showed and is similar
in both multiparas and nulliparas.
Both nulliparas and multiparas may take up 6 h to dilate from 4–5 cm;
and up to 3 h to dilate from 5−6 cm.
Although the upper limit of latent phase duration may be up to 20 h in a
primipara and up to 14 h in a multipara, this is never an indication for
cesarean section.