Abnormal labour

Abstract

The term abnormal labour, or labour dystocia, refers to a situation when there is slow or no progress in labour. Abnormal labour is associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes for both mother and baby which include bleeding, sepsis, operative vaginal and abdominal delivery, as well as newborn admission to the neonatal unit. To understand what an abnormal labour is, it is important that the reader understands what is meant by normal labour first. This will help to understand how normal labour can incrementally drift into the sphere of “abnormal or dysfunctional labour”. The article will also address how to manage abnormal labour.