Which stage of childbirth involves the baby's shoulders completing the movement to descend?

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The correct answer highlights the stage of childbirth where the baby's shoulders move into the position necessary for delivery. During external rotation, the baby typically rotates to align the shoulders with the birth canal after the head has been delivered. This rotation is crucial because it allows the wider parts of the baby's shoulders to fit through the pelvic inlet without causing any obstruction.

In this stage, the baby's shoulders usually follow the movement of the head, which has already emerged. The baby's body then turns to facilitate the delivery of the shoulders and the rest of the body. Understanding this process is essential for effective support during childbirth, as it ensures that the delivery proceeds smoothly and helps to minimize the risk of complications.

The other stages mentioned, such as flexion, descent, and engagement, refer to earlier phases of labor. Flexion involves the baby's head tilting forward to pass through the pelvic brim, descent is the process of the baby moving downward through the birth canal, and engagement is when the presenting part of the fetus settles into the pelvic inlet. Each is critical in the progression of labor, but external rotation specifically addresses the alignment and delivery of the shoulders after the head has already emerged.

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