Provision of care 1.0: Labor and Birth 1.8

Contraction

A shortening of the uterine muscles occurring at intervals before and during childbirth.

Effacement

Cervical effacement refers to a thinning of the cervix. It is a component of the Bishop score. It can be expressed as a percentage.

Dystocia

Difficult birth, typically caused by a large or awkwardly positioned fetus, by smallness of the maternal pelvis, or by failure of the uterus and cervix to contract and expand normally.

Dilation

Dilation is the opening of the cervix, which is measured in centimeters. Once you dilate to 10 centimeters (cm), you're ready to deliver your baby. Cervical dilation may occur naturally, or may be induced surgically or medically

Active Phase of Labor

During active labor, your cervix will dilate from 6 centimeters (cm) to 10 cm. Contractions will become stronger, closer together and regular.

Eutocia

Normal childbirth, characterized by uterine contractions that result in progressive cervical dilatation and fetal descent.

False Labor

Pains resembling those of normal labor but occurring at irregular intervals and without dilation of the cervix.

1st Stage of Labor

The first stage of labor and birth occurs when you begin to feel regular contractions, which cause the cervix to open (dilate) and soften, shorten and thin (effacement). This allows the baby to move into the birth canal. The first stage is the longest of the three stages.

Latent Phase of Labor

The start of labor is called the latent phase. This is when your cervix becomes soft and thin as it gets ready to open up (dilate) for your baby to be born. For this to happen, you'll start having contractions, which may be irregular and vary in frequency, strength and length.

Station

This is measured in "stations." A baby is at -3 station when the head is above the pelvis and at 0 station when the head is at the bottom of the pelvis (fully engaged). The baby is at +3 station when the head is beginning to emerge from the birth canal (crowning).

Transition

Transition is the final phase of the first stage of labor, following early and active labor. At this point, a woman progresses from seven to 10 centimeters, often in less than an hour. The word transition means that her body is making the shift from opening the cervix to the beginning of the baby's descent.

True Labor

True labor is defined as uterine contractions leading to cervical changes. If contractions occur without cervical changes, it is not labor. Other causes for the cramping should be diagnosed