Complications of labour and delivery

A placental disease is any disease, disorder, or pathology of the placenta.

A placental infarction results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the placenta, causing its cells to die.

Uterine rupture is a potentially catastrophic event during childbirth by which the integrity of the myometrial wall is breached.

An amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare childbirth (obstetric) emergency in which amniotic fluid, fetal cells, hair, or other debris enters the mother's blood stream via the placental bed of the uterus and triggers an allergic-like reaction.

In medicine (obstetrics), the term fetal distress refers to the presence of signs in a pregnant woman—before or during childbirth—that suggest that the fetus may not be well.

Cephalo-pelvic disproportion exists when the capacity of the pelvis is inadequate to allow the fetus to negotiate the birth canal.

Preterm birth, also known as premature birth, is the birth of a baby at less than 37 weeks gestational age.

Obstructed labour, also known as labour dystocia, is when, even though the uterus is contracting normally, the baby does not exit the pelvis during childbirth due to being physically blocked.

A shoulder presentation refers to a malpresentation at childbirth where the baby is in a transverse lie (its vertebral column is perpendicular to that of the mother), thus the leading part (the part that enters first the birth canal) is an arm, shoulder, or the trunk.

A nuchal cord occurs when the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the fetal neck 360 degrees.

An obstetric labor complication is a difficulty or abnormality that arises during the process of labor or delivery.

Vasa praevia, also spelled vasa previa, is a complication of pregnancy in which babies blood vessels cross or run near the internal opening of the uterus.

Prolonged labour is when the total duration of childbirth is greater than 24 hours.

Obstetrical bleeding also known as obstetrical hemorrhage and maternal hemorrhage, refers to heavy bleeding during pregnancy, labor, or the puerperium.

A breech birth occurs when a baby is born bottom first instead of head first.

Locked twins is a rare complication of multiple pregnancy where two fetuses become interlocked during presentation before birth.

Postpartum bleeding or postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is often defined as the loss of more than 500 ml or 1,000 ml of blood within the first 24 hours following childbirth.

Shoulder dystocia is a specific case of obstructed labour whereby after the delivery of the head, the anterior shoulder of the infant cannot pass below, or requires significant manipulation to pass below, the pubic symphysis.

Placenta accreta occurs when all or part of the placenta attaches abnormally to the myometrium (the muscular layer of the uterine wall).