North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Practice Exam

What is another term for the second stage of labor?

1. Delivery stage

2. Expulsion stage

3. Transition stage

4. Active stage

The correct answer is: Expulsion stage

The second stage of labor is most commonly referred to as the expulsion stage. This term accurately describes the processes occurring during this phase, where the fetus is pushed through the birth canal and delivered. The second stage begins when the cervix is fully dilated and ends with the birth of the baby. The use of the term "expulsion" emphasizes the active and dynamic nature of this stage, highlighting the role of the mother in pushing and the physiological changes that facilitate the delivery of the baby. Other terms in the list do not precisely capture the nature of the second stage. For example, "delivery stage" can be somewhat ambiguous, as it might refer to the entire process of childbirth rather than a specific stage. "Transition stage" typically refers to a part of the first stage of labor, where a woman experiences intense contractions and a shift from early labor to active labor, while "active stage" commonly describes a phase of the first stage of labor when cervical dilation occurs more rapidly before reaching full dilation.