Does prolonged labor lead to cerebral palsy? Prolonged labor can increase the risk of cerebral palsy in babies, but it does not always cause it. The main link comes from problems like lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain during a long delivery.
Labor is the process of giving birth. It has stages, like early labor and active labor. Active labor starts when the cervix opens more than 6 centimeters. Doctors watch for progress. If it stalls for four hours or more with real contractions, or six hours with medicine to help contractions, it counts as prolonged labor. This stall can harm the baby and mother.
One big danger is lack of oxygen, called hypoxia. The baby needs steady oxygen from the placenta through the umbilical cord. In prolonged labor, the cord can get compressed, or the placenta may not work well. This cuts off oxygen and blood flow to the brain. Brain cells die without oxygen, leading to damage. This damage can cause cerebral palsy, a group of disorders that affect movement, muscle control, and sometimes learning or speech.
Other risks from long labor include infections like chorioamnionitis in the mother, which can spread to the baby. The baby’s heart rate may drop, showing distress. Doctors might use tools like forceps or vacuum to speed delivery, but these can cause more injury if not done right. Shoulder dystocia happens when the baby’s shoulders get stuck after the head comes out, blocking oxygen again.
Not all cerebral palsy comes from birth. Some cases link to issues before labor, like placental problems or preterm birth. But birth injuries from oxygen loss during prolonged labor are a leading cause. For example, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is brain damage from low oxygen and blood flow. It often leads to cerebral palsy.
Doctors can act to avoid these issues. They may give medicine to strengthen contractions or break the water sac early. If needed, they switch to a C-section to deliver faster. Delays in these steps raise the chance of brain injury.
Every case differs. Not every long labor ends in cerebral palsy. Quick medical care matters a lot.
Sources
https://www.childbirthinjuries.com/blog/prolonged-labor-effects-on-baby-complications/
https://www.nationalbirthinjurylaw.com/what-causes-cerebral-palsy
https://www.sokolovelaw.com/birth-injuries/causes/
https://fosters-solicitors.co.uk/insight/cerebral-palsy-medical-negligence
https://www.grossmanjustice.com/new-jersey-cerebral-palsy-lawyer/
