Childbirth Problems: Common Complications of Labour and Delivery

Childbirth — labour and delivery — usually goes well, but problems can happen, putting the mother, the baby or both at risk.

Common problems

Timing

• Preterm labour — labour that starts before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy.
• Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) — the waters break too early; if labour doesn't start soon after, the risk of infection rises.
• Post-term pregnancy — lasting more than 42 weeks.

Labour that stalls, which can happen when:

• contractions weaken;
• the cervix doesn't open enough, or takes too long;
• the baby is in the wrong position;
• the baby is too big, or the pelvis too small, for the baby to pass.

The placenta and cord

• Placenta problems — covering the cervix, separating from the uterus before birth, or attached too firmly to it.
• Umbilical cord problems — the cord catching on the baby's arm, leg or neck, or coming out before the baby.

The baby

• Abnormal heart rate — often harmless, but a very fast or very slow rate can mean the baby is short of oxygen or has other problems.
• Breech position — the baby coming feet first.
• Shoulder dystocia — the head is out but a shoulder gets stuck.
• Perinatal asphyxia — the baby gets too little oxygen in the womb, during labour or delivery, or just after birth.

The mother

• Perineal tears — tearing of the vagina and surrounding tissue.
• Heavy bleeding — from tears to the uterus, or if the placenta can't be delivered.

What providers may do

Give medicines to start or speed up labour, use instruments to help guide the baby out, or deliver by Caesarean section.

Sources

• "Childbirth Problems," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, drawing on the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH). https://medlineplus.gov/childbirthproblems.html
• Rewritten in hubnx's own words.