Obstructed labour
Obstructed Labour
Obstructed labour (pronounced: /əbˈstrʌktɪd ˈleɪbər/), also known as labor dystocia, is a severe complication of childbirth where the baby cannot exit the pelvis during childbirth due to being physically blocked, despite the mother's effort.
Etymology
The term "obstructed labour" comes from the Latin words "obstruere" meaning "to block or to obstruct", and "labour" from the Old French "labourer" meaning "to toil or work hard".
Definition
Obstructed labour is a condition where, despite strong uterine contractions, the baby cannot progress into the birth canal for delivery. This can be due to a variety of reasons such as the baby's size, position, or because the mother's pelvis is too small.
Causes
The most common causes of obstructed labour include:
- Malpresentation of the baby: This refers to when the baby is not positioned head-first in the birth canal.
- Macrosomia: This is when the baby is significantly larger than average.
- Cephalopelvic disproportion: This is when the mother's pelvis is too small to allow the baby to pass through.
Complications
Obstructed labour can lead to serious complications for both the mother and the baby. These can include:
- Postpartum haemorrhage: This is heavy bleeding after birth.
- Fistula: This is an abnormal connection between two body parts, such as the vagina and bladder, caused by prolonged obstructed labour.
- Neonatal asphyxia: This is when the baby doesn't get enough oxygen during birth.
Treatment
Treatment for obstructed labour depends on the cause and may include:
- Caesarean section: This is a surgical procedure used to deliver the baby.
- Forceps delivery or vacuum extraction: These are procedures that can help guide the baby out of the birth canal.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Obstructed labour
- Wikipedia's article - Obstructed labour
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski