dystocia

British  

/ dɪsˈtəʊʃə /

noun

1. med abnormal, slow, or difficult childbirth, usually because of disordered or ineffective contractions of the uterus

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Other Word Forms

• dystocial adjective

Etymology

Origin of dystocia

New Latin, from Greek, from dus- (see _dys- ) + tokos childbirth + _-ia

Example Sentences

She said observations included dead or stillborn pups, aborted fetuses, malnourished pups, and adult females with dystocia — difficult births — who are also thin.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2024

Studies have shown that AMA is associated with abnormally prolonged labor, or labor dystocia, which puts the baby and mother at risk.

From Slate • Nov. 26, 2023

The baby was not able to be delivered vaginally due to shoulder dystocia, where the baby's shoulders become stuck in the birth canal.

From BBC • Aug. 10, 2023

Bosworth, whose mother Jeana Keough appeared on "Real Housewives of Orange County," was giving birth to McCoy Casey when he died due to “shoulder dystocia and a compressed umbilical cord.”

From Fox News • Apr. 27, 2020

Congenital luxation of the femora, when it appears in adult women is a prominent factor in dystocia.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)