A 20-year-old woman who has been laboring at home for several hours has been admitted to the labor and delivery unit at the hospital. The nurse has come in to assess her progress. Which of the following is indicative of being in the active phase of labor?
contractions lasting 45 seconds, 4 minutes apart, with cervical dilation of 4 cm
contractions lasting 30 seconds, 6 minutes apart, with cervical dilation of 3 cm
contractions lasting 60 seconds, 1 minute apart, with cervical dilation of 7 cm
contractions lasting 90 seconds, 2 minutes apart, with cervical dilation of 8 cm
Number 1 is correct.
The active phase of labor is defined as having cervical dilation of 4 – 7 cm and contractions lasting approximately 45 – 60 seconds, about 3 – 5 minutes apart. This is the phase of labor in which a woman would typically come and check in at the hospital. Number 2 describes the early phase of labor, and numbers 3 and 4 describe the transition phase of labor.
