Posterior Birth Complications
It is common for women to be nervous about giving birth. However, once a mother has made it through nine months of pregnancy, she generally expects that the birthing process will result in a healthy newborn.
Unfortunately, countless babies suffer from birth injuries during labor. Here, birth injury lawyer Lynn C. Harris discusses posterior birth complications that may leave his Salt Lake City, UT, clients struggling to deal with the consequences of a birth injury.
What Is a Posterior Birth?
A posterior birth occurs when the baby presents in the posterior position, also known as the occipito-posterior position (OP). In other words, their head is down and the back of the head is facing the mother’s back. The ideal position for birth is the anterior position, where the baby’s head is down and the back of the head is facing the mother’s stomach.
Many babies start in the posterior position and switch to the anterior position leading up to birth or during labor. Unfortunately, approximately five in 100 babies remain in the posterior position during labor. A woman can safely give birth to a baby in the posterior position, but labor may be longer and more painful. The risk of complications is also much greater.
Why Is a Posterior Birth Risky?
There are many challenges that a posterior birth can pose. Babies in the posterior position may not make it through the birth canal as easily. As a result, women may experience a longer birth and they might deal with more pain than they would had the baby shifted to the anterior position.
More serious posterior birth complications include:
- Prolapsed or compressed umbilical cord
- Prolonged labor
- Need for a vacuum of forceps extraction
- Birth asphyxia (lack of oxygen to the brain)
- Brain bleed
Any one of these complications can result in a birth injury for our Provo clients if medical professionals do not respond appropriately. Without prompt attention, these complications can leave a baby dealing with temporary or long-term birth injury symptoms, which may include developmental delays, seizure disorders, vision or hearing impairment, and physical disability.
Responding to a Posterior Position
Most often, if a baby presents in the posterior position, medical professionals will attempt to rotate the baby manually. A manual rotation can put the baby in the anterior position, which encourages a faster and more comfortable labor. If the baby cannot be rotated, medical professionals must closely monitor the baby for any potential signs of fetal distress. If it is unsafe to deliver the child in the posterior position, a C-section should be performed.
If a medical professional fails to respond to signs of fetal distress related to a posterior birth and complications develop, they can be held liable for any resulting injuries and damages. Attorney Lynn C. Harris is prepared to help his Salt Lake City clients prove medical malpractice so that they can collect compensation for birth injury losses, such as pain and suffering and past and future medical expenses.
Contact Us
If your child suffered a birth injury related to posterior birth complications, attorney Lynn C. Harris can help you determine whether there are grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. To discuss the details of your case, call (801) 521-3200 to schedule a legal consultation or send us a message online at your earliest convenience.
