Mums-to-Be Get Aware About Childbirth Complications

Most pregnancies and deliveries progress without complications. However sometimes complications can arise during childbirth. These include:

Failure to Progress (also known as prolonged labour)

Some women, usually first time mothers, may find their labour lasts “too long”. This is called prolonged labour and needs monitoring closely as both mum and baby could be at risk of complications including infection.

It could occur if the baby is very large, or if it is in the wrong position (abnormal presentation) or if the uterus does not contract efficiently.

If a woman’s labour goes on too long she may be given medication to make the contractions stronger. Or a caesarean section may be carried out.

Abnormal Presentation

The position the baby takes pre-delivery is called the presentation. It should be vertex (head down).

In the last few weeks of pregnancy the baby usually drops lower in the uterus, ready for the journey down the birth canal. The ideal position is head-down, facing the mother's back, with chin tucked into the chest and the back of the head positioned ready to enter the birth canal.

Sometimes baby is turned toward the mum’s abdomen and this increases the chance of a longer, painful "back labour," or even tearing of the birth canal.

In malpresentation of the head, the baby's head is positioned wrong, with the top of the head or face entering the birth canal first, instead of the back of its head.

Breech (bottom down) presentation babies are normally noticed well before the due date, and many will turn – or be turned - to the normal presentation before delivery. Breech babies are at risk of injury and a prolapsed umbilical cord.

Transverse lie (when the baby’s shoulder leads the way into the birth) is the most serious abnormal presentation, and it can lead to a ruptured uterus as well as fetal injury.

Umbilical cord prolapse or compression

Oxygen and nutrients are passed from the mother to her baby through the placenta and the umbilical cord. Prolapse is when, before or during labour, the umbilical cord slips through the cervix, entering the birth canal before the baby. It may even protrude from the vagina. This occurs most often when the baby is very small, is in breech position or if the waters have broken before baby is in the correct position.

It could be dangerous if the cord gets blocked, stopping blood flow.

If prolapse occurs away from a hospital it is an emergency and an ambulance should be called. While waiting the mum-to-be should get on her hands and knees with her chest lower than her buttocks so gravity prevents baby pressing against the cord.

A caesarean delivery will most likely be carried out.

If the umbilical cord gets stretched and pressed during labour it could restrict blood flow causing a drop in baby’s heart rate. A caesarean section may be deemed necessary if baby’s heart rate worsens or she shows signs of distress.

Debra Aspinall is an experienced journalist and the editor and leading writer for the Emma's Diary website, one of the UKs foremost pregnancy and baby websites.