Delivery Complications

Different viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections can complicate labor and delivery, including:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
• Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
• Group B Streptococcus (GBS)
• Influenza (flu)
• COVID-19 (coronavirus pandemic)
• Hepatitis B virus (can spread to the baby during birth)
• Yeast infections
• Zika virus (mosquito-borne illness)

These and other infections can be harmful to you and your baby. For example, in newborns, herpes can be life-threatening. It can also cause blindness, brain damage, and damage to other vital organs. In addition, bacterial vaginosis can play a role in preterm labor. It’s important to be proactive about seeking prompt treatment for any suspected infections during pregnancy.

The most common and safest position for a baby is with the head downward in the vaginal canal, and the face towards the mother’s back. However, not all babies descend this way. Some may be:

• Facing upward (also known as “sunny side up”)
• Lying sideways (horizontally across the uterus)
• In the breech presentation, either feet first (complete breech) or buttocks first (frank breech)

Depending on the baby’s position and other circumstances, medical professionals may:

• Use forceps to aid delivery
• Manually try to change the baby’s position
• Enlarge the vaginal opening
• Perform a Cesarean delivery

Overall, breech positions aren’t dangerous until delivery. During this time, the more complicated positions can increase the risk of cutting off the infant’s oxygen supply or the baby getting stuck in the birth canal.

Anemia occurs when the mother has fewer-than-normal red blood cells in her body. Its symptoms include:

• Pale or yellowish skin
• Breathlessness
• Irregular heart rate
• Frequent dizzy spells
• Chest pains
• Cold hands and feet
• Headaches
• Feeling weaker and more tired than usual

Anemia can be worse in case of hemorrhage or heavy bleeding during delivery, adding the risk of impaired cognition, fatigue, and depression. It also negatively affects mother-baby bonding. Folate deficiency anemia is especially dangerous in pregnant women and can lead to preterm labor and premature birth.

Gestational diabetes occurs when the mother cannot process sugars effectively, leading to higher amounts of glucose in the bloodstream. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes means the mother never previously had diabetes before pregnancy. However, it can affect multiple pregnancies, typically showing up mid-pregnancy.

Most women with this condition carry their babies to full term and deliver without complications with minimal diet and lifestyle changes. However, uncontrolled gestational diabetes can create problems after delivery. For example, a mother with gestational diabetes is at a higher risk of having a larger baby, necessitating a C-section or increasing the chance of birth injuries. Gestational diabetes can also result in breathing problems and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in newborns.

Placenta previa occurs when the placenta partially or fully covers the opening of the cervix. About one in 200 pregnant women will experience this complication. The most significant risk associated with this condition is severe bleeding as the cervix begins to dilate during labor. In some cases, the placenta will naturally migrate away from the cervix as the uterus grows. However, if the placenta is still covering the opening of the cervix at week 35 of pregnancy, then Cesarean delivery is usually performed. 

Placenta previa is most common in women who:

• Smoke
• Have uterine fibroids
• Are 35 years and above
• Had four or more previous deliveries
• Have had in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments
• Are pregnant with twins or other multiples
• Had previous uterine surgery, Cesarean delivery, or placenta previa

Usual symptoms include:

• Light to heavy vaginal bleeding
• Early contractions
• A large uterus size relative to the gestation of the pregnancy
• Breech presentation

Placenta previa can also increase the risk of developing placenta accreta, a life-threatening condition characterized by the placenta remaining inseparable from the uterine wall. Other threats to you and your baby include:

• Excessive blood loss (hemorrhage) and necessary transfusion
• ICU admission for you or your baby
• Need for a C-section
• Need for a hysterectomy after delivery if bleeding continues
• Premature delivery
• Low birth weight in your baby
• Lower APGAR scores in your baby (used to measure your baby’s heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone, breathing, and coloring)
• Respiratory distress or breathing complications in your baby, if delivered early

Low birth weight can result from poor nutrition, certain infections, or the use of drugs during pregnancy. Having a baby with a low birth weight increases the infant’s risk of:

• Blindness
• Heart infections
• Learning disabilities
• Respiratory infections

A baby born smaller than average may need to stay in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for up to several months after birth, especially if born prematurely.

Low birth weight isn’t always a complication or problem. Some babies born smaller than usual are perfectly healthy. Regular screening at routine prenatal visits to measure the fetus and identify potential risk factors can help mitigate possible health concerns.

High blood pressure happens due to the narrowing of the body’s arteries or blood vessels. It can be hereditary or caused by other lifestyle choices like smoking, sedentary behavior, or poor diet such as increased salt intake. If you suffer from high blood pressure before pregnancy, it can increase the risk of preeclampsia and preterm delivery. You also have a greater risk of giving birth to a small or underweight baby.

It’s important to work with your doctor to maintain your health and stabilize your blood pressure throughout your pregnancy.

Approximately 90% of women deliver within two weeks of their due date. However, in some instances, labor can start early (before the 37th week of gestation) or start late (after the 42nd week). Either scenario can endanger the baby’s health and life, which is why medical professionals need to monitor the baby’s progress and intervene when needed.

Preterm and post-term high-stress deliveries can result from pre-existing medical conditions or malpositioning of the fetus. Preterm labor occurs when labor pains start well before the 37th week of pregnancy, when the baby’s vital organs, like the brain and lungs, are not fully developed.

Preterm birth can lead to:

• Respiratory distress
• Jaundice
• Low birth weight
• Sepsis
• Vision problems
• Neurological injury
• Chronic lung disease
• Developmental delays

Premature babies must receive proper and immediate care to thrive.

Preeclampsia is common after the 20th week of pregnancy. It’s a condition characterized by high blood pressure and kidney or liver problems. It can be deadly for both the mother and her baby. The most effective treatment is delivery, but complications and recovery can sometimes persist even after the baby’s birth.

A miscarriage refers to the loss of pregnancy within the first 20 weeks, and it affects up to 20% of pregnancies among healthy mothers-to-be, according to American Pregnancy Association (APA).

A pregnancy loss after the 20th week is known as a stillbirth. It’s associated with:

• Infections
• Chronic maternal health issues
• Placenta anomalies

The miscarriage process often results in period-like cramps, only more painful. It can also cause heavy bleeding, including passing large blood clots or a recognizable fetus still in the pregnancy sac.

Fetal distress, recently renamed non-reassuring fetal status, describes a situation where the fetus is not doing well in response to pregnancy or labor.

Research links fetal distress to:

Low levels of amniotic fluids
Irregular baby’s heartbeat
Problems with muscle movement and tone

The condition can be caused by:

• Maternal anemia
• Insufficient oxygen levels
• Pregnancy-induced hypertension in the mother (preeclampsia)
• Meconium in the amniotic fluid
• Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR)

Umbilical cords are prone to many difficulties. The cord may be too short or too long. It can also become compressed, knotted, or improperly connected to the placenta.

Umbilical cord problems can lead to delivery complications. For example, the cord might prolapse, coming out of the birth canal before the baby. It can also wrap around the baby’s neck, interrupting their breathing or descent.

Excessive bleeding can occur during delivery due to uterine tears, placenta previa, placental abruption, or the mother’s inability to deliver the placenta after giving birth to the baby. On average, women lose 500mL of blood during vaginal delivery and 1,000mL during a C-section delivery of a single baby.

Bleeding occurs 24 hours or up to 12 weeks after delivery. If the bleeding is severe, it can cause organ failure, low blood pressure, or even death. However, with proper medical care and prompt intervention, the outlook for both the mother and her baby is usually good.