Terms Related to Labor Onset

• Cervical Dilatation

  Period from the onset of labor through complete dilatation of the cervix.

• Second Stage Labor

  Period of labor from complete dilatation of the cervix through birth of the fetus.

• Uterine Monitoring

  Measurement or recording of contraction activity of the uterine muscle. It is used to determine progress of labor and assess status of pregnancy. It is ...

• Dilatation and Curettage

  Dilatation of the cervix uteri followed by a scraping of the endometrium with a curette.

• Tocolysis

  Any drug treatment modality designed to inhibit uterine contractions in pregnant women at risk for preterm labor.

• Tocolytics

  Drugs that prevent preterm labor and immature birth by suppressing uterine contractions. Agents used to delay premature uterine activity include magnesium sulfate, beta-mimetics, oxytocin antagonists, ...

• Tocolytic Therapy

  Any drug treatment modality designed to inhibit uterine contractions in pregnant women at risk for preterm labor.