Birth complications are probably the last thing you want to think about during your pregnancy. But no matter how much women wish for a smooth birth, there are still some common complications that you need to be aware of.

But you can rest assured that if you experience any complications during birth, there is always help at hand.

So, let’s take a look at some of the common complications of labour and what support is available for you.

Fetal distress

During labour, your baby is constantly monitored for signs of distress, which usually means they are short of oxygen. One sign of foetal distress is waters that are stained with meconium (meconium is the baby’s first bowel movement). This alone doesn’t imply foetal distress, but if coupled with your baby’s heart rate slowing down, then you will be encouraged to have a prompt delivery. Similarly, if the meconium is thick, there is a risk that your baby could inhale meconium, which can cause breathing and lung problems. Your baby will be carefully monitored throughout labour and delivered promptly if problems occur.

Slow labour progression

Sometimes the cervix doesn’t dilate as expected during the beginning stages of labour. There are a few reasons for this:

Your baby’s head may be too large for the pelvis.

Insufficient contractions.

Your baby is in a posterior position.

Cord Prolapse

Unless your baby is breech or is in a transverse position, it is very rare that the umbilical cord lies below your baby. But in these cases, when your waters break, the cord can sometimes slip through the cervix, which can cut off the baby’s oxygen supply. This is an obstetric emergency and requires immediate assisted vaginal delivery or a Caesarean section.

Shoulder dystocia

This happens if the baby’s head has been delivered but the shoulders have become stuck so the rest of the body cannot be delivered. This is more likely if the baby is bigger than average or the mother has diabetes.

If this happens, the midwife will call for help immediately. The mother’s legs will be lifted in order to release the baby’s shoulders and an episiotomy may be required. If the shoulders aren’t releasing, the doctor or midwife will try out a variety of manoeuvres, such as adopting an all-fours position, to aid delivery.

Primary postpartum haemorrhage

If a woman loses 500ml (17oz) of blood within 24 hours of birth, it is referred to as a haemorrhage. This can happen if the uterus is not contracting quickly enough, if the placenta isn’t delivering, or if there are tears in the vagina. The factors that increase the risk of haemorrhage include bleeding before delivery, giving birth to twins or a large baby or prolonged labour. Bleeding can be controlled with drugs or by putting a “balloon” in the uterus. An operation may be done to check the abdomen, although this is rare.

What common labour complications do I need to be aware of?

On Unii’s Giving Birth Journey, we explain common complications to keep in mind.