A–Z Glossary

Prolonged second stage of labor

A second stage of labor in which pushing continues longer than expected without enough descent or rotation of the baby.

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Step-by-step assisted birth overview

Step-by-step assisted birth overview

What assisted birth means Assisted vaginal birth is a planned clinical maneuver used near the end of labor, not a separate type of labor from the beginning. It is considered when the baby is low enough in the pelvis, the cervix is fully dilated, and the care team believes vaginal birth is likely with controlled […]

Common problems during pushing

Common problems during pushing

Why pushing sometimes becomes difficult There is a useful difference between a hard pushing stage and a problematic one. Hard work is expected; a true problem is when contractions are no longer translating into descent, or when the person pushing is becoming too exhausted to continue safely. A broader pushing stage and delivery overview helps […]

When assisted delivery is needed during pushing

When assisted delivery is needed during pushing

What assisted delivery means during pushing Assisted delivery, also called operative vaginal delivery or assisted vaginal birth, refers to using instruments such as vacuum or forceps to help complete a vaginal birth during the second stage of labor. This is the phase after full cervical dilation, when the person is actively pushing and the baby […]

When vacuum or forceps are used

When vacuum or forceps are used

What assisted vaginal birth means Vacuum and forceps are used to assist a vaginal birth in the second stage of labor, after the cervix is fully dilated and the baby has descended into the pelvis. The clinician applies traction in coordination with contractions and, when possible, maternal pushing. The aim is not to pull a […]