I think the failure rate depends on the hospital/ob. In this specific study 8% were classed as failure to progress but i know at least 3 women who had the drip for less (one for only 3 hours and she was at 4cm already!) before that diagnosis was made by their obs. Is it subjective? Like i know some obs call continuous or recurrent heartrate issues, and/or meconium in the waters "distress" but i know of a woman who had a section due to foetal distress and when she got her notes (to read when planning for her VBAC) she had FOUR late fhr decelerations which had stopped by the time the anaesthatist had arrived to do her spinal block, but they went ahead and sectioned anyway, and didn't mention that bubs seemed fine again.

Bec