The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neonatal and maternal outcome after a prolonged second stage of labor. We compared a study group of 751 women, who delivered after a prolonged second stage (mean: 189 minutes) with a control group of 5241 women, who delivered spontaneously after a short second stage (mean: 19 minutes). In the study group different factors were significantly associated with a prolonged second stage: primiparity, higher birth weight and occiput posterior position. If no arbitrary limit for the second stage of labor is used, the presentation will progress in 70% of cases and 90% of women will delivery vaginally. The high rate forceps delivery slightly increases maternal morbidity. In spite of lower umbilical pH and five-minute Apgar scores, neonatal morbidity and mortality were not increased.