Is breech labor tied to cerebral palsy? Breech labor can increase the risk of cerebral palsy in some cases, mainly through complications like oxygen deprivation to the baby’s brain during delivery, but it is not a direct or guaranteed cause.
A breech baby is positioned bottom or feet first instead of head first in the womb. This setup makes vaginal delivery riskier than a normal head-first birth. Doctors often recommend a cesarean section for breech babies to avoid problems. If breech position goes unnoticed or is not handled properly, issues can arise during labor.
One key danger is oxygen loss to the baby. In breech vaginal births, the baby’s body might come out first, trapping the head or cord and cutting off oxygen. This lack of oxygen, called hypoxia, can damage the brain and lead to cerebral palsy. For example, in one case, a baby in possible breech position went into labor past the due date without proper checks. The fetal heart rate dropped sharply right before birth, causing severe brain injury and quadriplegic cerebral palsy from both ongoing low oxygen and a sudden crisis.
Medical experts note that breech deliveries raise the chance of brain damage if not managed right. Failing to spot the breech position during pregnancy or labor, or not advising on cesarean options, counts as poor care in some lawsuits. Signs of baby distress during a breech birth should prompt quick action, like switching to surgery, to prevent harm.
Not every breech birth ends in cerebral palsy. Many babies are born safely with planning. Risks grow with factors like overdue labor, no heart monitoring, or birth in a low-risk unit without backup for emergencies. Continuous monitoring of heart rate, as done in higher-risk hospitals, can spot problems early.
Cerebral palsy from birth often stems from oxygen shortages or bleeding in the brain, which breech labors can worsen if mishandled. Other birth injuries like Erb’s palsy, from nerve pulls in breech extractions, differ from cerebral palsy, which affects the whole body through brain issues.
Sources
https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/mother-of-baby-born-with-cerebral-palsy-successfully-establishes-ultrasound-should-have-been-ordered-on-due-date
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