Precipitate labour.

In Turku University Central Hospital there were 4976 deliveries in the years 1974--75. Among them there were 106 spontaneous, nonaugmented labours with a duration of two hours or less, giving an incidence of 2.1% precipitate labour. The most important aetiological factor was multiparity. 35% of precipitate labours commenced with spontaneous rupture of the membranes. The incidence of prematurity after precipitate labour was 8.5% and thus significantly (p less than 0.05) higher than in a control group, where mothers were matched according to age and parity. After precipitate labour the newborn fared as well as those in the control groups. It is our conclusion therefore, that precipitate labour need not be considered as an intrapartum risk factor, when neonatal well-being is considered.