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from Section 6 - Intrapartum/Delivery
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 April 2025
A prolonged latent phase of labor is defined as >20 hours of painful contractions in nulliparas and >14 hours in multiparous patients with dilation ≤4 cm. Initially described by Friedman in the 1960s, newer research suggests that latent labor can persist up to 6 cm dilation. Patients are typically offered one of three approaches: expectant management, therapeutic rest, or oxytocin augmentation. No definitive comparative effectiveness studies are available to guide the choice, and selection is typically individualized based on maternal and fetal factors. Prolonged latent phase is associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes including cesarean delivery.
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