Objective: Compare labor progression in first and second stages in women < 18 years with those ≥18 years.
Study design: Retrospective cohort study of consecutive women at term that reached the second stage of labor between 2004 and 2008. The first stage in women < 18 years was compared with women ≥18 years. Average labor curves were constructed and median time spent to progress 1 cm in dilation and total time from 4 to 10 cm was estimated. Time spent pushing and total duration of second stage were compared between groups. Analyses were then stratified by parity.
Results: There was no significant difference in progress of the first stage of labor between women < 18 years and those ≥18 years. In the second stage, nulliparous teenage women were less likely to have a duration > 60 or 120 minutes.
Conclusion: Laboring women < 18 years should be managed with the same expectations of labor as women ≥18 years.
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