Final answer:
The lithotomy position is used in obstetric procedures, including internal fetal monitoring, where the mother lies on her back with hips and knees flexed. It facilitates access for procedures like episiotomies and can impact the stages of childbirth, such as expulsion and positioning of the fetus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lithotomy position is commonly used during internal fetal monitoring and other obstetric procedures. This position involves the mother lying on her back with her hips and knees flexed, and her feet typically supported in stirrups. It is designed to give healthcare providers optimal access to the pelvic area for procedures such as the episiotomy, an incision made in the posterior vaginal wall and perineum to facilitate vaginal birth. The expulsion stage of childbirth occurs when the mother bears down with contractions to deliver the baby, which follows the cervical dilation stage and precedes the afterbirth stage. Fertilization is the unification of genetic material from male and female haploid gametes, resulting in a zygote protected by a fertilization membrane. The term fetus refers to a developing human from the end of the embryonic period (week 9) to birth, and in some instances, particularly during childbirth, the fetus's position, such as vertex or breech, can impact the delivery process.