Maternal age and duration of labor

The computerized records of a population of 7214 women who were delivered during the period 1987-1991 were analysed. We studied the possible relationship of the duration of the first and second stages of labor to maternal age. In para 0, para 1 and para 2+ mothers we found an independent positive correlation between the second stage duration and maternal age. By multiple stepwise regression analysis maternal age turns out to be one of the most influential maternal characteristics of the second stage of labor. No correlation was found between maternal age and the duration of the first stage.