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Shoulder dystocia
An average head-to-body delivery time
more than 60 seconds, or more commonly defined as "a delivery that requires
additional obstetric maneuvers following failure of gentle downward traction on
the fetal head to effect delivery of the shoulders." Shoulder dystocia is usually
caused by the anterior shoulder becoming stuck behind the mother's
pubic bone. Shoulder dystocia less commonly occurs if the posterior shoulder
becomes wedged against the sacrum.
The incidence of shoulder dystocia is reported to be 0.6 to 1.4 percent.
Singleton
A pregnancy with only one fetus in the uterus.
Small for gestational age (SGA)
Weight below the 10th percentile for gestational age. Most small for gestational
age fetuses are small because of constitutional factors such as female sex
or heredity.
Sonogram
(Ultrasound)
An image or images produced by collecting high frequency sound waves reflected
from structures inside the body.
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Speculum
An instrument used to hold the vagina open
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Sp otting
Light vaginal bleeding.
Station
The level of the presenting part in the birth canal in relation
to the ischial spines of the pelvis. The spines represent 0 station. The
presenting part is described as being from -1 to -5 cm above the spines or
+1 to+
5 cm below the spines. A station of + 5 cm would correspond to the presenting
part at the vaginal opening (introitus).
Stress test (Contraction stress test,CST,
oxytocin contraction stress test)
A method of testing fetal well-being and in particular the function of the
placenta under stress. The study is performed by making a graphical recording of
the fetal heart rate using an electronic monitor.
The tracing is observed for
late decelerations. The test requires three contractions in 10 minutes to be
present with the contractions lasting 40 to 60 seconds. If uterine activity is
absent then oxytocin is infused or nipple stimulation is used to stimulate mild
contractions. The test is positive if late decelerations are consistent
and present with more than 50% of the contractions. The CST is equivocal or
suspicious if there are intermittent late decelerations
A positive CST has been has been associated
with an increased incidence of intrauterine death, late decelerations in labor,
low 5-minute Apgar scores, and intrauterine growth restriction.
Surfactant
A substance produced in the lungs that prevents the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs from collapsing and
sticking together by reducing surface tension.
Sutures
1. Sutures (stitches) : Sterile, threadlike materials made of catgut, silk, or wire used by surgeons to
sew tissues together.
2. Sutures : The fibrous joints between the skull bones .
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