Labour pain is a universal phenomenon.
Duration of labour varies in all stages of labour
and also among nulliparous and multiparous
mothers. The first stage of labour is longer
and painful in both primiparous and
multiparous mothers. Prolonged labour may
lead to increased maternal and neonatal
mor tality and morbidity due to increased risks
of mater nal exhaustion, post-par tum
haemorrhage, sepsis, fetal distress and
asphyxia and requires early detection and
appropriate clinical response. The causes of
prolonged labour relate to maternal age,
induction of labour , epidural analgesia and
high levels of maternal stress hormones, but
are unknown in most cases.Various
pharmacologic measures are used to enhance
the uterine contractions and to decrease the