Dystocia (also known as difficult
labour, abnormal labour, difficult childbirth, abnormal
childbirth, dysfunctional labour) is an abnormal or
difficult childbirth or labour. Dystocia may arise due
to incoordinate uterine activity, abnormal fetal lie or
presentation, or absolute or relative cephalopelvic
disproportion. Oxytocin is commonly used to treat
incoordinate uterine activity. However, pregnancies
complicated by dystocia often end with assisted
deliveries including forceps, ventouse or, commonly,
caesarean section. Recognized risks of dystocia include
fetal death, respiratory depression, hypoxic ischemic
encephalopathy, and brachial nerve damage.
Shoulder dystocia is a specific case of dystocia
whereby the anterior shoulder of the infant cannot pass
below the pubic symphysis, or requires significant
manipulation to pass below, the pubic symphysis.
A prolonged second stage of labour is another type of
dystocia whereby the fetus has not been delivered within
three hours after the mother's cervix has become fully
dilated.
See
Active Management of Labour
