Complications During Delivery

Birth process is a well defined natural procedure but it may face serious complications. A little risk may lead to loss of mother, her baby or both. It is therefore important to know well about the possible complications.

Cesarean section is performed only if mother or the fetus is in distress and the operation is  the only way out. This procedure is generally avoided due to unnecessary stress on the fetus.  It is performed if the position of the placenta has been disarranged. The condition is called placental praevia. In this uterus comes in way of the fetus.

Proper co-ordination of contraction and relaxation of the uterus is necessary for a smooth delivery. In case of insufficient power to produce these contractions, the delivery may become extremely painful. Breathing exercises are practiced during gestation period to develop this stamina. Other reasons for improper contraction may be due to a rigid cervix, a colicky uterus, annular detachment, disordered uterine action or edernatous cervix.

Mal-positioning of the fetus is yet another big complication during delivery. There are four types of presentations. When the shoulder of the baby appears first it is called as the shoulder presentation. When the feet or the buttock appears first then the baby is aid to appear in breech presentation. When the baby is appearing upside down, it is called upside down presentation. Face presentations occurs when the face of the baby appears first instead of the head.

The passage of the delivery may be obstructed in more than one way. It could be due to some tumor or development of cysts. Physchological reasons such rickets, degenerative joint diseases and tuberculosis may also cause difficulty in a normal delivery.

One may have to take assistance of the forceps delivery if the labor is not going as per the plan. Like C-section, forceps must only be used when it is absolutely necessary and must be performed only by an expert. The risks involved by skull fractures, doctor- induced torticollis and birth marks.