Short vs long second stage of labour: is there a difference in terms of postpartum anal incontinence?

Objective: Our purpose was to determine if prolonged second-stage labour independently increases postpartum anal incontinence.

Study Design: 360 primiparous women were studied retrospectively after vaginal delivery of term cephalic singletons, including a group with short second-stage labour (<30min, n=163) and a group with a prolonged second stage (>90min, n=197). A quality of life questionnaire on anal incontinence (FIQOL) was sent out at 15 months after delivery.

Results: 184 women (96 with short second-stage labour and 88 with a prolonged second stage) answered the questionnaire (response rate 51%). Flatus incontinence was reported after prolonged second-stage labour in 9.1% of women vs 15.6% after short second stage (p=0.18). Fecal incontinence was reported after prolonged second-stage labour in 2.3% vs 5.2% after a short second stage (p=0.45).

Conclusion: We suggest that prolonged second stage of labour should not be associated with an increased risk of postpartum incontinence.