Causes of Birth Trauma and Health Risks

The phrase birth trauma can be used to describe the stress experienced by women who have undergone difficult childbirth. However, birth trauma also refers to injuries suffered by an infant as a direct result of the labor and delivery process.

Although childbirth may pose risks for both the mother and child, there are certain conditions which predispose an infant to trauma. These risk factors include:

• First-time pregnancies, also referred to as primagravida, pose a greater risk of trauma to an infant.
• Small maternal pelvis size can make delivery more difficult. Birth trauma is more likely with a smaller pelvis due to the pressure on the emerging fetus's head and spine. The most favorable and common pelvis type has a rounded, oval shape. This shape is less likely to cause injury to the fetus during birth.
• Prolonged or difficult labor, also called dystocia, can cause birth trauma, particularly if labor lasts more than 18 hours. Prolonged labor can lead to uterine hyperstimulation, or excessive stimulation of the uterus. This condition may cause a dangerous deprivation of oxygen to the fetus as well as umbilical cord compression.
• Multiple births. If the mother is pregnant with twins, there is less available space for the fetuses inside the womb. A "crowded" womb can cause club foot, bent pinnae (ears), and other forms of abnormal growth which can complicate delivery and increase the risk for injury.
• Breech presentation is a common cause of birth trauma. A breech infant is positioned with feet or buttocks down, rather than head down. Babies who are breech are more likely to suffer hip dislocation, club foot, scoliosis, or spinal trauma.
• Use of forceps or vacuum extraction during birth. These obstetric instruments are often used to hasten vaginal delivery. When they are applied improperly or with excessive pressure or force, they can cause injury to nerves in the infant's spinal cord or brain stem.
• Abnormally large fetus. A large fetus, or a large fetal head, increases the chance of cephalopelvic disproportion which means that it is too large to fit through its mother's birth canal and pelvis. When delivered vaginally, a large baby is at greater risk for birth trauma such as spinal cord injuries, nerve damage, and fractures.
• Internal fetal monitoring is when sensors are attached to an infant's emerging head. This procedure has been found to cause birth trauma such as scalp injuries and hemorrhaging.
  
• Infant prematurity. Babies born before 37 weeks' gestation – or those that have an extremely low birth weight - are at a greater risk for birth trauma. This is due to the fact that their small bodies are fragile and more vulnerable to injury.

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The law limits the amount of time after a patient incurs an injury to file suit. The amount of time varies based on the theory of liability and the state in which the patient files the suit.