Epidural analgesia can sometimes abnormally prolong the second stage of labour

Abstract

Aim: Investigating if some factors associated with length of the second stage of labour are the same among normal labouring women with or without epidural analgesia. Materials and Methods. On a sample of 92 women, a correspondence analysis among factor associated with a long lasting second stage of labour and interventions for accelerate birth was built. The length of the second stage of labour was corrected in case of epidural or non-epidural analgesia, because epidural analgesia can normally prolong the second stage of labour. Results. Epidural analgesia is associated to both a normal course of the second stage of labour (between 25th and 75th centiles) and with a long lasting second stage of labour (> 90th centile). Even Kristeller maneuvers and oxytocin infusion are associated both to the > 90th centiles and to the 25th and 75th centiles, and to the 75th and 90th centiles ranges of length. Conclusions. Epidural analgesia can sometimes cause an abnormal prolongation of the second stage of labour, justifying some obstetrical interventions to shorten it.