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Childbirth Problems
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Women

Childbirth Problems

While most deliveries proceed without complication, various medical issues can arise during labor and delivery that require intervention to ensure the safety of the mother and baby.

Overview

Childbirth is the process of giving birth to a baby. It includes labor and delivery. Usually everything goes well, but problems can happen. They may cause a risk to the mother, baby, or both.

Common Childbirth Problems

  • Preterm (premature) labor, when your labor starts before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy
  • Premature rupture of membranes (PROM), when your water breaks too early. If labor does not start soon afterwards, this can raise the risk of infection.
  • Problems with the placenta, such as the placenta covering the cervix, separating from the uterus before birth, or being attached too firmly to the uterus
  • Labor that does not progress, meaning that labor is stalled. This can happen when:
    • Your contractions weaken
    • Your cervix does not dilate (open) enough or is taking too long to dilate
    • The baby is not in the right position
    • The baby is too big or your pelvis is too small for the baby to move through the birth canal
  • Abnormal heart rate of the baby. Often, an abnormal heart rate is not a problem. But if the heart rate gets very fast or very slow, it can be a sign that your baby is not getting enough oxygen or that there are other problems.
  • Problems with the umbilical cord, such as the cord getting caught on the baby's arm, leg, or neck. It's also a problem if cord comes out before the baby does.
  • Problems with the position of the baby, such as breech, in which the baby is going to come out feet first
  • Shoulder dystocia, when the baby's head comes out, but the shoulder gets stuck
  • Perinatal asphyxia, which happens when the baby does not get enough oxygen in the uterus, during labor or delivery, or just after birth
  • Perineal tears, tearing of your vagina and the surrounding tissues
  • Excessive bleeding, which can happen when the delivery causes tears to the uterus or if you are not able to deliver the placenta after you give birth to the baby
  • Post-term pregnancy, when your pregnancy lasts more than 42 weeks

Management

If you have problems in childbirth, your health care provider may need to give you medicines to induce or speed up labor, use tools to help guide the baby out of the birth canal, or deliver the baby by Cesarean section.

Frequently Asked Questions

breech presentation occurs when the baby is positioned feet or buttocks first rather than head first. This position can make vaginal delivery dangerous due to the risk of the baby's head getting stuck after the smaller body parts have delivered. In many cases, the baby turns head-down on its own before 36 weeks. If the baby remains breech, a procedure called external cephalic version (ECV) may be attempted to manually turn the baby. If ECV is not successful or not recommended, a planned cesarean section is usually the safest option for delivery.
Umbilical cord issues, such as the cord wrapping around the neck (nuchal cord) or slipping out of the uterus before the baby (prolapsed cord), can compress the cord and restrict blood flow and oxygen to the baby. A nuchal cord is common and often harmless if loose, but a tight loop or prolapsed cord is an emergency. Signs include a sudden, persistent drop in the baby's heart rate on the fetal monitor. In cases of a prolapsed cord, immediate delivery, usually via emergency cesarean section, is required to prevent hypoxia and potential brain injury.
When the water breaks before labor starts, the protective barrier against bacteria is removed, increasing the risk of infection for both the mother and the baby. If labor does not begin spontaneously within 12 to 24 hours, providers typically induce labor to minimize this risk. In cases of preterm PROM (before 37 weeks), the approach is more complex; doctors may delay delivery to allow the baby's lungs to mature if the mother and baby are stable, using antibiotics to prevent infection. Close monitoring of temperature and fetal heart rate is critical during this waiting period.
Labor is considered stalled or arrested if there is no change in cervical dilation or the baby's descent for several hours despite adequate contractions. Signs include contractions that become weaker or less frequent, the cervix failing to open further, or the baby remaining high in the pelvis. If you are in a hospital, nurses and doctors monitor this via electronic fetal monitoring and regular exams. If labor stalls, interventions may include breaking the water, administering oxytocin to strengthen contractions, or performing a cesarean section to ensure the safety of both mother and baby.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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