What complication can arise from a prolonged labor?

A prolonged labor can lead to several complications, with an increased likelihood of cesarean delivery being one of the most significant. When labor is prolonged, it often means that the cervix is not dilating as expected or that the fetus is not progressing through the birth canal as it should. This can result in fetal distress or maternal exhaustion, with medical teams needing to consider the safety of both the mother and the baby. A cesarean delivery may be performed to prevent further complications, particularly if there are signs that the fetus is not coping well with the extended labor or if there are risks of infection for the mother.

The other options do not align with the effects of prolonged labor. Heightened energy levels would be unlikely in the context of a prolonged labor since the process can be physically exhausting for the mother. Decreased fetal movement may be a sign of extreme fetal distress, but prolonged labor does not inherently lead to decreased movement; rather, it may indicate the need for medical intervention. Improved fetal heart rate patterns would not typically arise during prolonged labor; in fact, fetal heart rate abnormalities are more commonly observed under stress conditions associated with long labor.