Obstructed labour (aka labour dystocia) is when, even though the uterus is contracting normally, the baby doesn't exit the pelvis during childbirth, due to being physically blocked.
Cause
Large or abnomally positioned baby, including shoulder dystocia (i.e. where the anterior shoulder doesn't pass easily below the pubic bone)
Small pelvis, of which risk factors for a small pelvis include:
Malnutrition
Lack of exposure to sunlight, causing vitamin D deficiency
More common in adolescence, as the pelvis may not have finished growing
Problems w/ birth canal, including narrow vagina and perineum, which may be due to female genital mutilation or tumors
Ix
Partograph, to track labour progression and Dx problems
Tx
C-section
Vacuum extraction
Possible symphysiotomy (surgical opening of the pubic symphysis)
Keeping the woman hydrated
Antibiotics, if the membranes have been ruptured for >18 hours
Prognosis
Results in "prolonged labour" (i.e. active phase of labour >12 hours)
Complications for the baby include not getting enough oxygen, which may result in death
Increases the risk of:
Mother getting infection
Mother having uterine rupture
Mother having post-partum bleeding
Long term complications for the mother include obstetrical fistula
Medicinenet.com Word of the Day Medicinenet.com Daily News
Medpage Today Latest Medical News
Health.com Happy & Healthy
Medical News Today headlines
Internal Medicine Clinical News
Modern Medicine News Modern Medicine Feature articles
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
BMJ Latest news BMJ Latest research BMJ Education
JAMA Current issue
The Lancet Current issue
NEJM Current issue
ScienceMag Current issue
NIH PubMed Health Featured reviews
ABC Health news ABC Health & Wellbeing ABC Health Minutes ABC RN's The Health Report ABC All in The Mind
BBC News - Health (International)
NSW Health Minister for Health Minister for Mental Health NSW Health Publications AI of Health & Welfare Publications Department of Health Publications
WHO Health news WHO Emergencies, disasters news WHO Disease Outbreaks WHO Health feature stories