Glossary: Complications of labor and delivery

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Terms used to describe some complications of birth.

Terms and Definitions

Meconium, moderate/heavy -- Meconium consists of undigested debris from swallowed amniotic fluid, various products of secretion, excretion, and shedding by the gastrointestinal tract; moderate to heavy amounts of meconium in the amniotic fluid noted during labor and/or delivery.

Premature rupture of membranes (more than 12 hours) -- Rupture of the membranes at any time during pregnancy and more than 12 hours before the onset of labor.

Abruptio placenta -- Premature separation of a normally implanted placenta from the uterus.

Placenta previa -- Implantation of the placenta over or near the internal opening of the cervix.

Other excessive bleeding -- The loss of a significant amount of blood from conditions other than abruptio placenta or placenta previa.

Seizures during labor -- Maternal seizures occurring during labor from any cause.

Precipitous labor (less than 3 hours) -- Extremely rapid labor and delivery lasting less than 3 hours.

Prolonged labor (more than 20 hours) -- Abnormally slow progress of labor lasting more than 20 hours.

Dysfunctional labor -- Failure to progress in a normal pattern of labor.

Breech/Malpresentation -- At birth, the presentation of the fetal buttocks rather than the head, or other malpresentation.

Cephalopelvic disproportion -- The relationship of the size, presentation, and position of the fetal head to the maternal pelvis prevents dilation of the cervix and/or descent of the fetal head.

Cord prolapse -- Premature expulsion of the umbilical cord in labor before the fetus is delivered.

Anesthetic complications -- Any complication during labor and/or delivery brought on by an anesthetic agent or agents.

Fetal distress -- Signs indicating fetal hypoxia (deficiency in amount of oxygen reaching fetal tissues).

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