Abstract
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.
Keywords
teenage women - labor curve
