Labor and Delivery

This animation depicts the sequence of events in a delivery with several complications. A lateral cut-away view of the mother reveals her spine, pubic bones and the infant as delivery begins. We notice a nuchal cord (umbilical cord wrapped around the neck) on the infant. Meconium invades the amniotic fluid, prompting the physician to rupture the membranes, releasing most of the fluid. Maternal contractions fail to expel the infant. The process of fetal circulation is described. An enlargement of a segment of normal umbilical cord is compared to a segment of compressed umbilical cord to show the restriction of blood flow in the latter. The infant inhales some of the meconium stained fluid. A vacuum is applied to the head and suprapubic pressure is applied in an attempt at delivery, but the shoulder gets caught on the mother's pubic bones. The nuchal cord is freed from the infant's head. The shoulder is dislodged and the infant is delivered.