# Can Breech Extraction Cause Cerebral Palsy Disabilities?
Breech extraction is a delivery method used when a baby is positioned feet-first in the womb instead of the normal head-first position. During this procedure, doctors must apply force to guide the baby out of the birth canal. This process carries real risks, and one question many parents ask is whether breech extraction can lead to cerebral palsy.
The short answer is yes, but it’s important to understand how and why this happens.
## What Happens During Breech Extraction
When a baby is in breech position, the arms and shoulders may become stuck above the baby’s head. To extract the baby, medical professionals must pull on the body and arms. If too much force is applied during this process, serious nerve and brain injuries can occur. The brachial plexus, which is a network of nerves running from the neck through the shoulder into the arm, can stretch or tear. Additionally, excessive pulling and manipulation can contribute to oxygen deprivation or bleeding in the brain, both of which are known causes of cerebral palsy.
## The Connection Between Breech Extraction and Brain Injury
Cerebral palsy is a group of movement and muscle disorders that result from brain damage. This brain damage can happen in several ways during a difficult breech extraction. When doctors apply excessive force to pull the baby from the birth canal, it can cause intracranial hemorrhage, which is bleeding inside or around the baby’s brain. Prolonged oxygen deprivation during a difficult extraction can also damage the brain’s delicate blood vessels, making them prone to rupture and bleed.
The longer a baby goes without adequate oxygen during delivery, the greater the risk of permanent brain damage. In some cases, a breech presentation may require an emergency cesarean section rather than a vaginal extraction. When this necessary surgical intervention is delayed, the baby’s brain can suffer serious injury from lack of oxygen, potentially resulting in cerebral palsy, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or other permanent neurological conditions.
## Risk Factors That Increase Danger
Certain situations make breech extraction even more risky. Premature infants have a higher risk of brain bleeds. Babies with suspected bleeding disorders or bone fragility conditions face increased danger. When the cervix is not fully dilated or when the baby’s head is still high in the pelvis, extraction becomes more difficult and dangerous. If a previous vacuum or forceps attempt has already failed in the same labor, using these instruments again back-to-back significantly increases the risk of injury.
## Other Birth Injuries From Breech Extraction
While cerebral palsy is a serious concern, breech extraction can cause other injuries as well. Erb’s palsy is a nerve injury to the arm and shoulders that commonly results from breech extraction when excessive force is applied. Klumpke’s palsy affects the hand, wrist, and arm. Skull fractures, cephalohematoma, and other physical injuries can also occur. In the most severe cases, a baby may suffer from permanent paralysis or significant lifelong weakness.
## Recovery and Long-Term Outcomes
The outcome depends heavily on the severity of the injury and how quickly treatment begins. For nerve injuries like Erb’s palsy, about 80 to 90 percent of children make a full recovery. However, if key movements remain limited after one to two years of age, long-term weakness or movement restrictions become more likely. Children with the most severe nerve injuries, called avulsions where the nerve is ripped away from the spinal cord, may face permanent paralysis even with surgery and therapy.
For cerebral palsy resulting from brain injury during breech extraction, the effects are typically permanent. The extent of disability depends on how much brain damage occurred and which areas of the brain were affected. Some children may have mild movement difficulties, while others face severe developmental delays, cognitive problems, seizure disorders, or epilepsy.
## When Medical Negligence Occurs
Not all breech extractions result in injury, and not all injuries during breech delivery constitute medical negligence. However, negligence can occur when doctors apply excessive force, use delivery tools improperly, fail to recognize that a cesarean section is necessary, or delay performing an emergency cesarean section despite clear signs of fetal distress. Medical professionals have a responsibility to recognize when a breech presentation cannot be safely delivered vaginally and to perform a timely cesarean section instead.
When a baby suffers cerebral palsy or other serious injuries due to improper breech extraction or delayed cesarean section, families may face lifetime medical expenses, ongoing therapy, special education needs, and other significant costs. In cases where medical negligence caused the injury, families may pursue legal action to secure compensation for their child’s lifelong care needs.
## Sources
https://www.cerebralpalsyhub.com/birth-injury/erbs-palsy/
https://www.cerebralpalsyhub.com/birth-injury/vacuum-delivery-complications/
https://www.grossmanjustice.com/new-jersey-breech-birth-delayed-section-lawyer/
https://www.childbirthinjuries.com/birth-injury/c-section-injuries/
https://powlesslaw.com/newborn-brain-bleeds-ich-causes-symptoms-and-malpractice/
https://www.birthinjurylawalliance.com/chicago-birth-injuries-attorneys