Birth arrest
Birth arrest is a lack of progress in a birth that drags on for hours. It is not clearly defined how long the lack of progress has to take in order to speak of a birth arrest. According to the ACOG , it must be taken into account how many children the patient has already given birth (see parity ) and whether the patient has received epidural anesthesia (PDA). The following upper time limits are given for the expulsion period:
- First-time mothers:
- 3 hours with PDA
- 2 hours without a PDA
- Multiparous:
- 2 hours with PDA
- 1 hour without PDA
In addition, however, it must be taken into account how the fetal and maternal condition is, whether a cause for the birth arrest is evident and whether the patient and the fetus can be expected to wait a little longer.
causes
In the opening period (the cervix does not open any further):
- Labor weakness
- an absolute or relative mismatch between the female pelvis and the fetal head
- Attitude anomaly
- Cervical dystocia
During the expulsion period (the cervix is fully opened, the head does not go lower):
- Secondary weakness in labor
- A Big Child ( Macrosomia )
- Mismatch between the pelvis and the fetal head
- Attitude anomaly
- Lack of cooperation on the part of the patient
- Epidural anesthesia and thus a lack of pressure
literature
- Birgit Seelbach-Göbel : Protracted birth, birth arrest, attitude anomalies . In: Franz Kainer (Ed.): Specialist in obstetric medicine . 1st edition. Urban & Fischer, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-437-23750-0 , 24.4, pp. 943-954 .
