Does prolonged labor raise cerebral palsy cases? Yes, it can increase the risk through complications like oxygen deprivation to the baby, but most cerebral palsy cases come from other causes, not labor itself.
Prolonged labor means the birth process takes much longer than usual. This happens when the cervix does not open fully or the baby does not move down the birth canal as expected. It puts stress on both mother and baby. For the baby, key dangers include infection, fetal distress where the heart rate drops, birth asphyxia from lack of oxygen, and shoulder dystocia where the baby gets stuck.
Lack of oxygen stands out as the biggest worry. When labor drags on, the baby may not get enough oxygen to the brain. This can lead to brain damage known as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE. HIE often results in cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement and muscle control due to early brain injury.
Doctors sometimes use medicine like Pitocin to speed up contractions in long labors. But if the dose is too high, it causes the uterus to contract too hard or too often. This squeezes the baby’s oxygen supply even more, raising chances of HIE, cerebral palsy, seizures, or other issues.
Still, prolonged labor does not cause most cerebral palsy. Experts say 85 to 90 percent of cases are congenital, meaning they start before labor from problems like abnormal brain development in pregnancy or genetic factors. Only about 14.5 percent link to oxygen loss during birth. Other common risks include premature birth, especially before 28 weeks, low birth weight, placental issues, or infections.
Labor complications like this only explain 5 to 10 percent of cases overall. About 3 to 4 in every 1,000 babies are born with cerebral palsy. Early care for at-risk newborns, such as cooling the brain for HIE, helps prevent worse outcomes.
Medical teams watch closely during long labors. They check the baby’s heart rate and intervene with tools or a cesarean section if needed. This lowers risks.
Sources
https://www.bila.ca/prolonged-labour-effects-on-baby/
https://www.nationalbirthinjurylaw.com/what-causes-cerebral-palsy
https://prosperlaw.com/medical-malpractice-childbirth/
https://cerebralpalsyguidance.com/2025/12/12/researchers-use-mri-to-diagnose-find-causes-of-cerebral-palsy-in-children/
https://www.grossmanjustice.com/new-jersey-cerebral-palsy-lawyer/
https://www.chop.edu/conditions-diseases/cerebral-palsy
