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. 2022 Jul 13;12(1):11930.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-14711-y.

Maternal childbirth experience and time in labor: a population-based cohort study

Sara Carlhäll  1   2 , Marie Nelson  3   4 , Maria Svenvik  4   5 , Daniel Axelsson  4   6 , Marie Blomberg  3   4
Affiliations

Maternal childbirth experience and time in labor: a population-based cohort study

Sara Carlhäll et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

A negative childbirth experience may have long term negative effects on maternal health. New international guidelines allow a slower progress of labor in the early active phase. However, a longer time in labor may influence the childbirth experience. In this population-based cohort study including 26,429 women, who gave birth from January 2016 to March 2020, the association between duration of different phases of active labor and childbirth experience was studied. The women assessed their childbirth experience by visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Data was obtained from electronic medical records. The prevalence of negative childbirth experience (VAS 1-3) was 4.9%. A significant association between longer duration of all labor phases and a negative childbirth experience was found for primi- and multipara. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR (95%CI)) of negative childbirth experience and longer time in active labor (above the 90th percentile) in primipara was 2.39 (1.98-2.90) and in multipara 2.23 (1.78-2.79). In primi-and multipara with duration of labor ≥ 12 h or ≥ 6 h the aOR (95%CI) of negative childbirth experience were 2.22 (1.91-2.58) and 1.91 (1.59-2.26) respectively. It is of great importance to identify and optimize the clinical care of women with longer time in labor to reduce the risk of negative childbirth experience and associated adverse long-term effects.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of the study population.
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