On the Friedman labour curve, a primigravida in the active phase shows cervical dilatation progressing at 0.8 cm per hour despite adequate contractions. This disorder is classified as:

• A Prolonged latent phase
• B Protracted active phase (primary dysfunctional labour) ✓
• C Secondary arrest of dilatation
• D Prolonged deceleration phase

Explanation

Friedman defined protracted active phase dilatation as progress slower than 1.2 cm per hour in a nullipara and slower than 1.5 cm per hour in a multipara; in a primigravida this pattern was termed primary dysfunctional labour. Secondary arrest means dilatation ceases entirely after prior normal progress, prolonged latent phase exceeds 20 hours in a nullipara, and prolonged deceleration phase refers to delay between full dilatation and complete effacement of the remaining segment rather than slow dilatation.

Reference: Williams Obstetrics, 26th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.