Birth Injuries From Prolonged Labor

Addressing Complications from Stalled or Arrested Labor - Illinois Medical Negligence Attorney

Labor and delivery is a commonplace procedure that happens every day, but complications may occur during birth that present risks to the health of the child or the mother. Prolonged labor is one issue that could result in birth injuries, and in these cases, medical personnel need to act to ensure that a child is delivered safely.

What Is Prolonged Labor?

When a mother enters the active stage of labor, doctors or nurses will monitor a variety of factors to ensure that labor is progressing at the expected rate. These factors include the dilation and thinning of the cervix, the position of the child in the mother's pelvis, and the length and frequency of contractions. Labor may be considered prolonged if it lasts longer than 20 hours (or just 14 hours for second or third pregnancies) or if the cervix does not dilate at the expected rate for four hours.

Causes of Prolonged Labor

Labor may become slowed or arrested for a variety of reasons, including:

• Cephalopelvic disproportion - The child's head may be too large to move through the birth canal. 
• Malpresentation - Children are typically delivered head-first. If the child is in the breech position or is not facing toward the mother's back, this may lead to slowed or arrested labor.
• Weak contractions - If contractions are not strong enough, they may not cause the cervix to dilate at the proper rate. Pain medications administered to the mother may result in slowed or weakened contractions.

Risks of Prolonged Labor

When labor lasts too long, this can lead to health issues that affect both the child and the mother, including:

• Asphyxia - Prolonged labor can result in issues that affect the placenta or umbilical cord, such as placental abruption, and this may result in an interruption of the flow of blood and oxygen to the child. A child may also experience asphyxia if he or she becomes lodged in the birth canal. Oxygen deprivation can lead to brain injuries, including fetal stroke, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), or periventricular leukomalacia (PVL).
• Fetal distress - A lengthy labor may cause a child to experience a low or irregular heart rate or other forms of distress. This may be caused by the intense contractions that can result if drugs such as Pitocin are administered to speed up the labor process, and it can result in complications such as meconium aspiration.
• Birth trauma - If the child remains in the birth canal for too long, this can put too much pressure on the head and brain, resulting in injuries such as skull fractures. If a child has trouble progressing through the birth canal, a doctor may use forceps or vacuum extractors to aid in the delivery, and improper use of these tools can lead to brain injuries or brachial plexus injuries.
• Infections - Prolonged labor increases the chances that the child will contract an infection during birth or experience sepsis.
• Maternal injuries - Lengthy labor increases the risks of maternal infections, vaginal lacerations, and post-partum hemorrhaging.

Help With Injuries From Prolonged Labor

A mother and child should be closely monitored by hospital staff throughout labor and delivery, and if labor is not progressing at the proper rate, medical intervention may be needed. In some cases, Cesarean delivery may be necessary in order to reduce the risk of injury to the child or mother.

The effects of injuries that occur due to lengthy labor can be far-reaching, and they may have a long-term impact on the child's development or the mother's health. If you or your child have suffered harm because of prolonged labor, you will want to understand whether medical negligence may have played a part. The Birth Injury Law Alliance can review your case and help you understand the options that are available to you. For a free consultation and case evaluation, contact us at 312-462-4200.