Home
Issues
Aim & Scope
Open Access
Editorial Board
Indexing
Supporting Midwifery Associations
Contact us
Manuscript Types
Manuscript Formatting
How to submit
Special publications and Reprints
Authorship & COI
Principles of Transparency Checklist
Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Redefining early labour: A multi-criteria approach to onset, transition and duration in relation to birth interventions and outcomes
1
Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre Hospital, Department of Obstetrics, Hvidovre, Denmark
2
Karolinska Institute, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Stockholm, Sweden
3
Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Department of Obstetrics, Copenhagen, Denmark
4
Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre, Department of Clinical Research, Hvidovre, Denmark
5
Karlstad University, Department of Health Science- Faculty of Health- Science- and Technology, Karlstad, Sweden
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A494
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The latent phase of labour is increasingly recognised as a critical period influencing childbirth outcomes and maternal experience. Yet, clinical definitions of onset, duration, and transition to active labour remain inconsistent.
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate how the latent phase begins, how transition to active labour occurs, and how the cumulative duration of the latent phase is associated with labour interventions and outcomes.
METHODS:
We conducted a prospective study in 2023 at a Danish tertiary hospital including women with term, singleton pregnancies and spontaneous labour onset (n=1526). Postpartum questionnaires were combined with hospital birth records. Transition to active labour was defined by one of four mutually exclusive criteria: (1) cervical dilatation 4–6 cm with painful contractions; (2) clinical diagnosis before 4 cm; (3) pre-admission documentation of intensifying contractions; or (4) intensifying contractions noted without a concurrent cervical exam.
RESULTS:
Labour most often began with contractions, followed by rupture of membranes or bleeding. In 67% of women, transition was defined by cervical dilatation; in 33%, by other signs. One in five transitioned before hospital admission. Median latent phase duration was 13.1 hours for primiparous and 5.9 hours for multiparous women. Longer latent phases were associated with increased dystocia-related interventions. A significantly increased risk of caesarean section was only observed for durations in the ≥90th percentile (adjusted OR 4.01 primiparous; 5.75 multiparous).
CONCLUSIONS:
A novel multi-criteria definition enabled a more nuanced understanding of early labour. Extended latent phases were associated with more interventions, but only extremely prolonged durations correlated with higher caesarean risk. These findings support more individualised assessments and caution against strict reliance on time or cervical measurements alone.
KEY MESSAGE:
Refined clinical criteria and individualised assessment are needed to support evidence-based early labour care. Poster session 1 (Group A)
The latent phase of labour is increasingly recognised as a critical period influencing childbirth outcomes and maternal experience. Yet, clinical definitions of onset, duration, and transition to active labour remain inconsistent.
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate how the latent phase begins, how transition to active labour occurs, and how the cumulative duration of the latent phase is associated with labour interventions and outcomes.
METHODS:
We conducted a prospective study in 2023 at a Danish tertiary hospital including women with term, singleton pregnancies and spontaneous labour onset (n=1526). Postpartum questionnaires were combined with hospital birth records. Transition to active labour was defined by one of four mutually exclusive criteria: (1) cervical dilatation 4–6 cm with painful contractions; (2) clinical diagnosis before 4 cm; (3) pre-admission documentation of intensifying contractions; or (4) intensifying contractions noted without a concurrent cervical exam.
RESULTS:
Labour most often began with contractions, followed by rupture of membranes or bleeding. In 67% of women, transition was defined by cervical dilatation; in 33%, by other signs. One in five transitioned before hospital admission. Median latent phase duration was 13.1 hours for primiparous and 5.9 hours for multiparous women. Longer latent phases were associated with increased dystocia-related interventions. A significantly increased risk of caesarean section was only observed for durations in the ≥90th percentile (adjusted OR 4.01 primiparous; 5.75 multiparous).
CONCLUSIONS:
A novel multi-criteria definition enabled a more nuanced understanding of early labour. Extended latent phases were associated with more interventions, but only extremely prolonged durations correlated with higher caesarean risk. These findings support more individualised assessments and caution against strict reliance on time or cervical measurements alone.
KEY MESSAGE:
Refined clinical criteria and individualised assessment are needed to support evidence-based early labour care. Poster session 1 (Group A)
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
