Predictive value of cervical dilatation rates in labor in multiparous women.

A modified version of Philpott's partogram, previously used by us to analyze patterns of labor in primiparous and grand multiparous women in Israel, was applied to multiparous women. The results for labor in multiparous women closely resemble those found for primiparous and grand multiparous labors. The rate of cervical dilatation, as measured early in the active phase of labor [initial rate (IR)], is an accurate indicator of the outcome of labor. Ninety-eight percent of all multiparas with an IR of cervical dilatation of 0.75 cm/h or greater delivered spontaneously. Sixty-two percent of women with an IR of less than 0.75 cm/h required an assisted delivery or cesarean section. Mean IR of cervical dilatation for spontaneous deliveries, assisted deliveries, and cesarean sections were, respectively, 1.53, 0.67, and 0.46 cm/h. No significant differences were observed among different population groups. Cervical dilatation rates among all parities appeared similar. The only major difference was in dilatation rates for assisted delivery in primiparas, which were faster than in labors in multiparous or grand multiparous women.