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Difficult childbirth. [G. dystokia, fr. dys-, difficult, + tokos, childbirth]

- arrest of active phase d. stoppage of further cervical dilation for longer than 2 hours after labor has entered active phase (generally defined as active contraction with at least 4 cm of cervical dilatation); causes include inadequate uterine contractions and cephalopelvic disproportion.

- arrest of descent d. failure of fetus to descend after an hour in second stage despite maternal effort; typically due to inadequate maternal effort, fetal malposition, or fetal size.

- fetal d. d. due to an abnormality of the fetus.

- maternal d. d. caused by an abnormality or physical problem in the mother.

- placental d. retention or difficult delivery of the placenta.

- shoulder d. arrest of normal labor after delivery of the head by impaction of the anterior shoulder against the symphysis pubis.

dys·to·cia dis-'tō-sh(ē-)ə or dys·to·kia -'tō-kē-ə n slow or difficult labor or delivery compare EUTOCIA

difficult birth, caused by abnormalities in the fetus or the mother. The most common causes of fetal dystocia are excessive size or malpresentation of the baby. Maternal dystocia may result if the pelvis is abnormally small, the uterine muscles fail to contract, or the neck of the uterus fails to expand. If the cause of dystocia cannot be eliminated, it may be necessary to deliver the baby by Caesarean section or to operate in such a way that it can be removed with the minimum possible risk to the mother.