Isn’t it exciting to know there’s a tiny human living in your belly? The feeling of bringing a life into this world is beyond words. But unfortunately, giving a natural birth isn’t as straightforward as it may sound. Many women suffer from complications, whereas others undergo prolonged labor cycles. In some cases, mothers suffer from excessive bleeding, leading to further complications.
Fortunately, doctors are familiar with these complications and know how to handle them timely. However, it is crucial to understand why they happen and how to avoid them. After all, giving birth is painful, while complications can make things more difficult. Before your delivery date, look up online and understand what problems arise during natural childbirth. It will allow you to be more vigilant and careful during your labor period.
If you want more clarity on this, have a look below. Here we are highlighting six issues that can arise during natural childbirth.
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Prolonged Labor
At times, labor becomes protracted and stalls indefinitely. It usually happens because the contractions aren’t strong or the cervix stops dilating. Often, the baby isn’t descending the birth canal despite pushing consistently. In such cases, doctors either wait for natural childbirth or opt for cesarean delivery. However, that can lead to various issues in the unborn child.
Cesarean births often cause breathing problems in infants, leading to cerebral palsy. And that’s why most parents file a cerebral palsy lawsuit against negligent doctors.
Nonetheless, make sure the gynecologist acts immediately. If not a cesarean delivery, they can inject a shot of Pitocin to strengthen and speed up the contractions. Otherwise, an episiotomy can also be helpful during prolonged labor.
The only way to prevent this is by not rushing to the hospital at the first sign of labor. The more natural momentum your body will have, the quicker you can give birth.
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Fetal Distress
In this condition, the fetus does not appear to be doing well. Often, the baby’s heartbeat is irregular, and at times, there is a problem with muscle and bone movement. It happens because of insufficient oxygen levels, maternal anemia, and hypertension.
Mainly, fetal distress occurs in pregnancies that last 42 weeks or longer. Doctors can prevent this condition or increase maternal hydration by changing the mother’s position. In addition, they can maintain the oxygenation of the mother to ensure the baby isn’t running short of breath.
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Excessive Bleeding
On average, women lose 500 milliliters of blood while giving birth. However, the blood loss is 1000 ml for a cesarian delivery. In every case, bleeding happens when the placenta is expelled because the uterine contractions are weak. It doesn’t provide enough compression to the blood vessels, resulting in excessive bleeding.
Often, doctors use medications to stop the bleeding. They also tie blood vessels through surgery to prevent bleeding. After all, excessive bleeding can be life-threatening for the mother and child.
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Umbilical Cord Problems
The umbilical cord supplies blood and essential nutrients to the baby. One can say it is your baby’s lifeline in the womb. However, it can pose dangers during birth. If it gets caught around the baby’s neck or limb, it can be a risky situation. Moreover, it can cut blood flow, limiting the baby’s source of oxygen and blood. It can make things super complicated.
Even though there isn’t any way to predict umbilical cord problems, delivering via c-section is the safest bet. Hence, if a doctor recommends an emergency c-section, don’t hesitate and give permission immediately.
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Premature Birth
When an infant comes into this world before the 37th week of the pregnancy, it is premature birth. The fetal isn’t developed fully, leading to severe complications for the baby. Some babies suffer from hearing complications, impairment, and developmental delays. That mostly happens when women conceive again within 12 months of giving birth. Practitioners recommend waiting 18 months between getting pregnant again and giving birth.
In addition, lack of prenatal care or a history of multiple miscarriages also leads to premature deliveries. The only viable way to prevent it is by taking extra care of yourself. If you begin bleeding early, call your health provider. It would indicate you are in preterm labor that requires hospitalization. The doctor will give a few medications to either halt delivery or speed up fetal development, saving the baby’s life.
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Pre-eclampsia
Having high blood pressure during pregnancy and protein in urine is known as pre-eclampsia. It gets diagnosed in the third trimester but primarily develops during delivery or the weeks after giving birth. If left untreated, it can lead to dangerous complications for the mother and baby.
The common symptoms are severe headaches, blurred vision, and excessive swelling in the body. So, stay on bed rest with a low dose of aspirin to avoid any complications.
Final Thoughts
Giving birth is beautiful and miraculous. However, things get complicated when women don’t look after themselves or avoid consulting gynecologists timely. As a result, the baby suffers from complications. From fetal distress to premature birth, there are two lives at risk. Therefore, it is the mother’s responsibility to take care of the baby and herself during pregnancy. Head over to the health provider without hesitation whenever you notice anything unusual.
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