dystocia
Last reviewed 05/2021
Dystocia is defined as the slow or painful birth of a child.
Labour is deemed obstructed when there is no progress despite strong uterine contractions.
Both disorders may be thought of in terms of abnormalities in the following:
- powers
- passage
- passenger
Shoulder dystocia is a specific example of dystocia where there is an inability to deliver the shoulder after the head has been delivered.