Final answer:
During the second stage of labor, the baby is expelled from the uterus. The cervix dilates to about 10 cm, and uterine contractions become more forceful. Synthetic oxytocin can be used to restart and maintain labor if it stops before stage two.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the second stage of labor, also known as the pushing stage, the baby is expelled from the uterus. The uterine contractions become increasingly more forceful, and the cervix dilates to about 10 cm. The stretching of the cervix halts when the baby is born, and the release of oxytocin stops.
If labor should stop before stage two is reached, synthetic oxytocin, known as Pitocin, can be administered to restart and maintain labor.