The duration of normal labour in Cape Town whites.

The durations of the various stages of normal labour in White patients delivered at Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town, have been estimated for parity groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 and over. A significant correlation between age and the duration of the second stage was found in the para 2 group (r = 0,23, P less than 0,05). Previous abortions, marital status and oxytocic augmentation had no significant effect. The mean durations of the 1st and 2nd stages in primigravidas were significantly longer than in multigravidas. The upper limits of normal for the durations of the 1st and 2nd stages and the duration of the active phase were calculated. The mean duration of the 3rd stage was approximately 5 minutes.