Birth Complications

Fact Checked

The presence of birth complications is a risk factor for cerebral palsy. A risk factor is not a direct cause, but it does make a diagnosis more likely. Complications that can impact cerebral palsy include premature delivery, issues with the umbilical cord, a detached placenta, abnormal heart rate, and more.

What Is a Complication of Birth?

A complication of birth is any problem that is a risk to the health of the mother or the baby that occurs during delivery. There are also complications of pregnancy, which are health problems occurring in pregnant women or the developing fetus before labor begins.

Birth complications occur during labor and delivery of the baby and can have serious repercussions for both the mother and the baby. If the complication results in brain damage to the baby, the child may be diagnosed with cerebral palsy. However, birth asphyxia or decreased oxygen levels during birth is not as common a cause of cerebral palsy as previously thought.

Examples of Birth Complications that May Lead to Cerebral Palsy

Experiencing any of these complications does not necessarily mean that a child will end up with cerebral palsy. They put these babies at an increased risk for cerebral palsy because they may result in damage to the brain.

This can happen because the complication reduces or cuts off oxygen to the baby’s brain or because it causes physical trauma and damage to the brain. Not all complications are the result of medical malpractice.

The American Academy of Pediatrics/American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Task Force on Neonatal Encephalopathy has identified several criteria that must be met to indicate damage occurred near labor and delivery.[1] Some of the possible birth complications that may have these repercussions include:

• Premature labor and delivery. A preterm baby is born too early before the end of the complete gestation period. This can be a problem in a number of ways because the child is not fully developed yet and may struggle to survive outside the womb. A premature baby may be at risk for cerebral palsy because early delivery can lead to brain damage from bleeding, low blood pressure, infection, low birth weight, respiratory problems, and other factors that may increase the risk of the condition.
• Umbilical cord complications. Several complications with the umbilical cord put a baby at risk for cerebral palsy because it is the cord that provides the fetus with blood and oxygen from the mother. If this supply is cut off, the baby can asphyxiate and end up with brain damage. Potential complications include the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby’s neck and a constricted umbilical cord.
• Abnormal presentation. Normal presentation occurs when the baby’s head emerges first, facing toward the mother’s back. An abnormal presentation, like breech in which the baby’s bottom comes out first, can cause severe distress and potentially asphyxia. The presentation should be monitored by doctors and addressed if abnormal.
• Uterine rupture. When the uterus ruptures or tears during labor and delivery, it may cause excessive bleeding, which is dangerous for the mother and the baby. For the baby, it may result in asphyxia and resulting brain damage.
• Detached placenta. Placental abruption occurs when the placenta detaches from the wall of the uterus before the baby is born. This can be very serious and may result in the fetus not getting enough oxygen to the brain, with the potential for resulting brain damage.
• Abnormal heart rate. Doctors and other medical caregivers should monitor the baby’s heart rate during delivery. If it is abnormal, it may indicate that the baby is not getting enough oxygen. If the doctor does not take any steps to correct this, the baby may not get enough oxygen and could end up with brain damage.
• Birth injury. Birth injuries are any kind of physical damage to a baby as it is being delivered. Some babies have large heads, increasing their risk for trauma during vaginal birth. This can also be caused by medical negligence, such as when a doctor uses forceps or a vacuum extractor with too much force. These may be used on a baby’s head to help it proceed through the birth canal and can be done safely. However, if the doctor uses too much force, the skull and brain may be damaged. Failing to address an abnormal presentation can also lead to a birth injury if the baby gets stuck in the birth canal.
• Labor that does not progress. When labor fails to progress, the mother is pushing, but the baby is not moving into or through the birth canal. This may cause several problems for both the baby and the mother, including cutting off oxygen to the baby’s brain. Long labor requires medical intervention to protect both mom and baby.
• Post-term pregnancies. In most cases, when a pregnancy goes beyond the typical term, to 41 or 42 weeks, there are no health problems. However, when a pregnancy continues to 42 weeks and later, with no onset of labor, the placenta may not be able to nourish the baby effectively, leading to inadequate oxygen to the brain.

Preventing Birth Complications and Cerebral Palsy

Avoiding or preventing all possible birth injuries is no guarantee that a child will not develop cerebral palsy. Other risk factors and potential causes could affect a child in the womb, during delivery, or shortly after birth.[2]

Some babies have a genetic susceptibility, and other congenital abnormalities are associated with an increased risk of cerebral palsy. Future parents and their doctors are responsible for minimizing the chance of complications occurring to help protect both the baby and the mother.

One of the most important things a mother-to-be can do is make and keep her regular doctor’s appointments while pregnant. This allows her doctor to screen her for potential complications and to take steps to prevent them from causing harm. If a mother does this and the doctor misses something, it may be a reasonable error, but it may also be negligence.

For example, an abnormal presentation is easily detected, often before labor even begins. A doctor should be screening for presentation, and there are plenty of steps they can take to help the birth proceed more safely.

A birth injury is also something that can usually be avoided if the doctor uses instruments safely or makes the right decision to perform a Cesarean section if it is more appropriate than using instruments.

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and had complications during labor and delivery, you may be the victim of negligence. Cerebral palsy lawyers can help you determine if your doctor was negligent and what you can do to get justice and compensation for your child’s future.