Prolonged labour can lead to increased maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity due to
increased risks of maternal exhaustion, postpartum haemorrhage and sepsis, fetal distress and
asphyxia and requires early detection and appropriate clinical response. The risks for
complications of prolonged labour are much greater in poor resource settings. Active
management of labour versus physiological, expectant management, has shown to decrease the
occurrence of prolonged labour. Administering sedatives during labour could also lead to
faster and more effective dilatation of the cervix. Interventions to shorten labour, such as
sedatives, can be used as a preventative or a treatment strategy in order to decrease the
incidence of prolonged labour. As the evidence to support this is still largely anecdotal
around the world. (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013,CD009243.pub3.; Cochrane
Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, CD009223.pub2.)
Hypothesis: Diazepam reduced the duration of labor and the severity of pain in labor.