An anterior lip can slow the woman's progress from the 1st to 2nd stage of the labour, because the swelling will usually take time to reduce, before enabling the woman's cervix to be pulled up, and around, the baby's head. The early pushing that normally accompanies an anterior lip can mean that the woman is more likely to make the swelling worse, by pushing on it.
Pushing on an anterior lip can:
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Make the cervix swell more, taking longer to fully dilate. |
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Prolong 1st stage of the labour, as it can take the cervix longer to open and pull up completely. This may mean your caregiver is more likely to suggest augmenting the labour, or suggesting an epidural. |
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Exhaust the woman, particularly if the pushing makes her cervix thicker. |
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Confuse, and emotionally distress the woman, because she wants to push but is making no progress, and often she is being told that the swelling is increasing. |
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Distress the baby, if the 1st stage is prolonged and the woman is becoming anxious. |