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15.8: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    104680
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    active phase
    phase of labor in the first stage that lasts from 6 cm (nulliparous) or 4 cm (multiparous) to 10 cm/100 percent effacement
    early phase
    early part of the first stage of labor lasting until 6 cm in a nulliparous person and 4 cm in a multiparous person
    external cephalic version (ECV)
    procedure that attempts to change the fetal position and, if successful, can negate the need for a cesarean birth
    fetal attitude
    description of the presence of flexion or extension (also referred to as deflexed) of the fetal head and neck
    fetal position
    relation of the presenting fetal part to the pelvic anatomic landmarks
    first stage
    stage of labor in which contractions and cervical dilation occur; ends with complete dilation/effacement
    fourth stage
    stage of labor that begins after the placenta delivery and the end of perineal assessment/repair and ends 1 to 4 hours later
    labor
    uterine contractions that lead to dilation and effacement of the cervix and move the presenting fetal part through the pelvis
    lightening
    process by which the fetal presenting part descends into the maternal pelvis; occurs prior to or during labor
    molding
    compression of the cranial bones, sutures, and fontanelles of the fetus to allow for the fetus to pass through the birthing person’s pelvis
    oblique lie
    describes a fetus with the long axis at an angle between the perpendicular and parallel
    passage
    pelvic anatomy that the fetus navigates during birth
    passenger
    fetus and how they proceed through the passage
    position
    position of the laboring and birthing person; impacts much of the birth process and often changes the course of labor
    power
    strength of the uterine muscle contractions and the birthing person’s expulsive efforts
    psyche
    mind of the laboring and birthing person, which can have a lasting impact on every stage of labor and birth
    restitution
    external rotation of the fetal head once the head is born, whereby the fetus then turns to the left or right oblique diameter of the pelvis to allow passage of the shoulders under the maternal pubic arch
    second stage
    stage of labor in which the cervix reaches 10 cm dilation/100 percent effacement; lasts until birth occurs
    third stage
    stage of labor that begins after birth and ends with completion of the placenta delivery and perineal assessment/repair
    transverse lie
    describes a fetus with the long axis perpendicular to the maternal long axis

    This page titled 15.8: Key Terms is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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