How Long Can Labor Last? Person Centred Care During Labor to Increase Safety for Women and Newborn

"How long will my labor last" is a very common question for midwives who care for women during birth. To evaluate safe labor duration largely determines management and care during birth. Today a standardized tool is used by midwives to evaluate normal and safe labor called the partograph. The World Health Organization partograph is a decision-making support tool designed to assist midwives in identifying normal labor duration and women at risk of developing complications. The tool guide the use of care interventions intended to mitigate any perceived risks. The partograph has been in use since the 1950ies and has had a profound impact on care and management during labor. Normal labor progression according to the partograph is a linear progression with cervical dilation of 1 centimeter per hour (alert line) and any deviation from this should lead to an intervention.The purpose of this research project is to increase person-centred care during labor. Specifically, we want to provide updated comprehensive information on labor duration and patient safety for reduction of; unnecessary medical interventions during normal labor; morbidity and mortality in the new-born; maternal complications during delivery and the puerperal period.