Labor and Delivery Terminology

• Attitude: Degree of flexion of the fetus or relationship of fetal parts to each other. (In a "good" attitude, the fetus is in complete flexion or the classic fetal position.)
• Dilation: Opening of the cervix from closed (0.0 cm) to completely open (10.0 cm).
• Duration: Length of time a contraction lasts (should be less than 70 seconds).
• Effacement: Thinning and shortening of the cervix and lower uterine segment. Extent of effacement is expressed as a percentage.
• Engagement: Entrance of the fetal head or presenting part into superior pelvic opening.
• Frequency of contractions: Time from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next.
• Intensity: Strength of a contraction. To assess, the fingers of the examiner are placed on the fundus of the uterus throughout a contraction.
• Lie: Comparison of the long axis of the fetus to the long axis of the mother. Lie is described as either "transverse" or "longitudinal."
• Position: Landmark of fetal presenting part to the right or left and anterior, posterior, or transverse portion of the mother’s pelvis. (See abbreviations such as LOA, ROP, etc.)
• Presentation: Portion of the infant that is deepest in the birth canal and is palpable upon vaginal examination.
• Show: The blood-tinged mucus that is discharged as the cervix begins to dilate.
• Station: The position of the presenting part in relation to the ischial spines; progresses from —5 to 0 to +5 (see Fig. 3–2).