Comparing Effects of Amniotomy and Spontaneous Rupture of Membrane on Duration of Labor in Primigravida at Term Pregnancy

Author(s): Tanveer Shafqat , Laila Zeb, Sumaira Yasmin

Purpose: Early amniotomy is one of the most important procedures for improving labor progress and preventing dystocia in pregnant women. The study compared the effects of amniotomy and spontaneous rupture of membrane (in early labor in primigravida at term) on the duration of labor.

Methodology: Randomized Controlled Trial was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology MTI, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 80 pregnant women with a single cephalic fetus in early labor were included in the study. Group A included 40 women in whom amniotomy was performed; while group B had 40 women who had spontaneous rupture of membranes. Duration of labor was noted in both groups.

Results: The average age of Group A females in labor was 27.17 years and 26.2 years in group B. Gestational age and weight of mothers averaged 38 weeks and 67 kg in both groups respectively. The duration of labor was 5.7 hours in Group A and was prolonged at 7.1 hours in Group B. The mean duration of labor was 5.7 hours in Group A and 7.15 hours in Group B (P-value = 0.01). Regardless of the age of the mothers in either group, the mean duration of labour was 5.7 hours (18- 30 years) and 5.5 hours (above 30 years) in Group A, compared to Group B, 7.1 hours (18-30 years) and 7.0 hours above 30 years). Significant differences (P- value: 0.01) existed between each age group, gestational age, and weights in groups A (amniotomy) and B (spontaneous rupture of membranes) concerning the duration of labor.

Conclusion: Artificially rupturing the membranes during active labor in primigravida reduces the length of labor considerably.