Arrested Labor: Unveiling the Struggles and Triumphs
1. Arrest of labor occurs when there is no progress in the dilation and descent of the newborn down the birth canal for at least two hours.
2. Prolonged labor is when the first and second stages of labor together last longer than 20 hours for first pregnancies and greater than 14 hours for subsequent pregnancies.
3. Causes of prolonged and arrested labor can include breech position, face presentation, deflexed head position, and inadequate uterine activity.
4. Inadequate contractions can be treated with uterine stimulation using drugs like Oxytocin or Cytotec, but excessive stimulation can cause harm to the baby.
5. Risks of prolonged and arrested labor include fetal distress, bleeding inside the baby’s head, and increased need for interventions like Cesarean section or forceps/vacuum extraction.
6. Long-term risks for the baby include cerebral palsy and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
7. Risks of injury to the mother include intrauterine infections, cervical tears, postpartum hemorrhage, and postpartum infection.
8. Diagnosis of prolonged and arrested labor can be made based on the duration of labor, frequency and strength of contractions, and adherence to the three stages of labor.