Dystocia refers to abnormal labor progression. It may be due to one or more factors that prevent the fetus from being delivered. This is a major cause for Cesarean section.
Causes of dystocia include:
(1) problems in pelvic architecture (too small, distorted)
(2) large fetal size (macrosomia)
(3) body part that is presenting (brow, face, shoulder, breech) gets stuck
(4) inadequate uterine contractions with insufficient expulsive force (inertia)
More than one cause may be present.
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