How long does “obstructed” labor last?
In most large published series describing fistula victims, the average time in labor is nearly 4 days. Labor as long as 14 days has been reported; however, once labor becomes obstructed, the fetal head can exert enough pressure on the affected vaginal tissues to create a fistula in less than a single day. This is why prompt obstetric care is so important in preventing this complication of childbirth.
