A–Z Glossary

Prolonged second stage of labor

A second stage of labor in which pushing takes longer than expected and progress remains minimal despite contractions and effort.

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Search results for: Prolonged second stage of labor

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 […]

How vacuum extraction is performed and when it is needed

How vacuum extraction is performed and when it is needed

What vacuum extraction is Vacuum extraction is an operative vaginal birth technique in which a clinician places a suction cup on the fetal scalp and applies controlled traction during contractions while the birthing person pushes. The device does not pull the baby out independently; it augments the expulsive forces already present in the second stage […]

Common reasons and how assisted delivery works

Common reasons and how assisted delivery works

What assisted delivery means Assisted vaginal delivery is a birth in which an obstetric clinician uses an instrument to help guide the baby’s head through the birth canal. The two main methods are forceps-assisted delivery and vacuum-assisted delivery. Forceps are curved metal instruments shaped to cradle the sides of the baby’s head. A vacuum extractor […]

When and why assisted delivery is used

When and why assisted delivery is used

What assisted delivery means Assisted delivery refers to a vaginal birth in which a clinician uses an instrument to help guide the baby out during the second stage of labor. The two main methods are vacuum-assisted birth, using a suction cup placed on the baby’s scalp, and forceps-assisted delivery, using curved instruments placed around the […]

Assisted delivery explained and types of methods

Assisted delivery explained and types of methods

What assisted delivery means Assisted delivery, in the context of childbirth, most often refers to assisted vaginal delivery. It is a vaginal birth in which an obstetric clinician uses an instrument to help guide the fetal head through the birth canal while the birthing person pushes. The two established methods are forceps-assisted delivery and vacuum-assisted […]