Breech Birth Complications and Birth Injuries

In a typical labor and delivery, a baby is born head first, which allows it to pass through the birth canal without trauma to the skull or limbs. In some more difficult circumstances, however, infants are born in the “breech” position, where the feet and buttocks are set to enter the birth canal first instead. This heightens the risk of the baby becoming wedged in the birth canal, prolonging labor. When a breech birth is handled improperly by medical staff, a child can suffer birth injuries.

Although a breech baby typically does not present until later in the pregnancy, an obstetrician should be able to determine the position of the baby before childbirth through certain exams and tests. If discovered early enough, they can attempt to reposition the baby naturally or, alternatively, deliver the baby via caesarean section. The point, however, is that your medical care provider must do something.

If they fail to take action once it is clear that a baby is in the breech position and complications result, they may have committed medical malpractice.

What are the different types of breech?

There are three main positions of breech:

• Frank breech. In this position, the baby’s legs are up with its feet near the head. This increases the chance of the umbilical cord forming a loop that could come out before the head, causing a potential injury to the baby during birth.
• Footling breech. Sometimes called “incomplete breech,” footling breech means one or both legs are lowered over the cervix. It heightens the chance of the umbilical cord sliding down into the womb and cutting off the baby’s blood supply.
• Complete breech. In complete breech position, the baby is bottom first with its knees bent. Again, this raises the risk of the umbilical cord looping and coming out before the head, causing injury to the baby.

When a breech delivery has complications, a variety of birth injuries can result.

Birth injuries from breech deliveries

Depending on the circumstances of the breech, as well as the medical staff’s action or inaction, birth injuries from breech delivery complications can include:

• Brain injury
• Cerebral palsy
• Erb’s palsy
• Fetal distress
• Nerve damage
• Oxygen deprivation
• Seizures
• Spinal cord injury
• Umbilical cord prolapse

An obstetrician should know the risk factors for a breech birth and be alert when a patient is high-risk.

What causes a breech birth?

The reasons why some babies move into the breech position are not fully known, and in some cases there is no apparent cause. However, experts do believe that certain factors make the potential of a breech birth more likely. These factors include:

• Being pregnant with multiples
• Going into early labor
• Having an abnormally shaped uterus or fibroids
• Having an excess of amniotic fluid
• When the placenta covers the cervix

Your doctor should be familiar with these risks, and monitor you carefully throughout your pregnancy, labor, and delivery. This way you may avoid a breech delivery and associated complications, or your doctor will be prepared to respond appropriately in the event a caesarean is not possible.

Verywell Health reports there are several natural methods to turn a baby into the headfirst (cephalic) position, including:

• External cephalic version, performed by your doctor
• Performing exercises at home
• Chiropractic care
• Stimulating sounds
• Acupuncture

NOTE: Any attempts to turn your baby’s position should be done under the supervision of your obstetrician.

When a doctor mismanages a breech birth

Typically, when a baby cannot be safely turned from breech position prior to delivery, a C-section is widely considered the safest next course of action by the medical community. When a baby suffers birth injury from breech delivery complications, delayed C-section is quite often the cause.

Not every birth injury is caused by medical malpractice. However, physicians and obstetricians have a responsibility to ensure a baby is in the correct position before childbirth and take every reasonable effort to limit the risk of injury during labor and delivery. If they fail to do so and your child is harmed, malpractice likely occurred.

If your child suffered a birth injury from medical negligence, the Maryland medical malpractice attorneys at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. want to hear your story. We hold doctors and obstetricians liable when they harm our most vulnerable. To schedule a free consultation about your case, call today at 410-730-7737 or use our contact form.