dystocia

Definition

A slow or difficult labour or delivery.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek δυστοκία (dustokía, “difficult childbirth”), from δυσ- (dus-, “bad”) + τόκος (tókos, “childbirth”), from τίκτω (tíktō, “I give birth”).

Example Sentences

• "In macaques, baboons and chimpanzees, dystocia because of breech birth is the commonest category of fetal death.[…]Breech dystocia is rarely a problem for mother or neonates in small, multitocus species like marmosets and tamarins."
• "Dystocia is defined as difficult delivery. Pelvic dystocia is due to aberrations of the pelvic architecture and its relationship to the presenting fetal part.[…]Fetal dystocia may be due to excessive fetal size from gestational diabetes or congenital anomalies."
• "Although fetal dystocias are sometimes relieved by manipulation and instrumentation, cesarean sections are often the only practical methods of treatment."