Six Causes of Childbirth Complications

Childbirth complications may occur even if you have had a normal pregnancy up to delivery.

Childbirth complications occur in a large number of cases. They can occur even if you have had a normal pregnancy up to delivery. In such situations, it is extremely important that you have a team of highly competent medical professionals by your side to manage the risk. It is, however, worrying that at times the hospital staff does not treat such cases with the seriousness they deserve. Here are some common childbirth complications that have occured.

Misuse of Drugs That Help Arrest Labor

If labor occurs before the 37th week of pregnancy, it may create complications, both for you and your child. So as to delay labor, using relevant drugs is advised. Such drugs help reduce or stop the contractions, and this buys more time for the fetus to develop in the womb. It helps reduce the risk of brain damage or respiratory distress syndrome. This kind of treatment has risks as well. Inappropriate use of these drugs may cause serious complications.

Complications of the Umbilical Cord

If the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck, or is trapped between the cervix and the head of the fetus, it may cause fetal distress or interrupt oxygenated blood flow to the baby, resulting in fetal hypoxia, cerebral palsy, or even brain damage.

Failure To Prevent Preterm Labor

Preterm labor, if not treated properly, can lead to premature childbirth. Many serious health complications await children born prematurely. Such children are also exposed to lifelong physical or mental disabilities. If a doctor fails to follow the protocol and allows preterm labor, it amounts to medical malpractice. It is advised that one consults an experienced Missouri medical malpractice lawyer if negligence leads to preterm labor.

Use of Forceps In Vacuum Extraction Delivery

When a baby is oversized and gets stuck in the birth canal, forceps and vacuum extraction devices come in handy. However, misuse of these procedures may cause a complication known as shoulder dystocia. Other complications related to the misuse of the two tools include brain damage, cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, or even spinal cord damage. It may also result in vaginal tearing which may lead to difficulties in future deliveries because of build-up of scar tissue.

Pitocin Errors

The drug named Pitocin is used to help induce labor. Though the drug is of much help when labor is stalled and the baby is in distress, it can lead to uterine rupture. Hyper-stimulation is harmful for the mother and may also cause lifelong complications for the baby. In view of this, Pitocin should be used with utmost care.

Delayed Birth-Related Injuries

Newborns may be highly affected by prolonged labor during delivery. An electronic monitoring device should therefore be used to monitor fetal distress. This aids medical personnel in making important decisions regarding induction of labor.

Have you or your child suffered from negligent diagnosis or handling of childbirth complications? Consult with Zevan and Davidson Law Firm at (314) 588-7200.

Photo credit: Jose Manuel Rios via Flickr