Prolonged or Arrested Labor Leading to Birth Injuries in Oregon

Labor is a painful and stressful time for the mother to be. While painful and stressful, these feelings are often appropriate and are a part of the labor experience that must occur to allow for delivery of the baby. While these things are normal, there is a point in time when labor may be going on for too long, putting both the mother and baby at risk for serious complications. When labor is going on too long, it is a physician or other healthcare provider’s job to intervene to prevent these potential complications from occurring. When a healthcare provider fails to intervene in the setting of prolonged or arrested labor and the baby or mother suffer serious consequences, this is considered negligence.

 

Stages of Labor

 

There are three stages of labor. The first stage is considered involves 3 things. The first being the latent phase, which is often the slowest part of the first phase of labor but involves thinning (effacement) of the cervix and dilation. Once a mother is 4cm dilated, she is considered to have entered the active stage of labor. The active stage of labor involves further thinning of the cervix and dilation. When labor is occurring as it should, the cervix should be dilating 1.2cm per hour for first time mothers, and 1.5cm per hour for mothers who have previously birthed a child. The transition stage occurs when the mother is 7cm dilated and ends when she is a full 10cm. Once a mother has reached 10cm dilated, she is considered to be in the second stage of labor and is ready to deliver the baby. The third stage is the afterbirth of the placenta. 

 

Prolonged Labor Explained

 

While labor tends to be a long and arduous process, it can be especially long for first time moms. However, if labor is allowed to go on too long, it can pose serious health risks to the mother and baby. Generally speaking, it is considered to be prolonged labor when a woman has been in labor for 20 hours or more for a first time mother, and 14 hours or more for mothers who have previously given birth. If the mother enters the active phase of labor and experiences prolonged labor, this is especially dangerous and intervention should occur.

 

Arrested Labor Explained

 

Arrested labor occurs when the mother is dilated more than 6cm, has had her membranes ruptures, and is experiencing either normal contractions with lack of cervical change for four hours or more, or an absence of normal contractions with a lack of cervical change for six or more hours. Arrested labor occurs when there is no progress of labor. When physicians allow for arrested labor to continue in the setting of either of these circumstances, it places the mother and baby at great risk for complications. 

 

Causes of Prolonged and Arrested Labor

 

There are many reasons as to why a woman may experience prolonged or arrested labor. If it is a mother’s first time having a baby, she is more at risk for this situation occurring as even a normally progressing labor in a first time mother is usually quite slow. If the baby is not in the right position for labor (head down), the baby may not progress as it should. Babies who are breech or transverse generally should be born via c-section. If the baby is too large to fit through the birth canal, this also can allow labor to become prolonged or arrested. Sometimes, the mother’s pelvis is too small for the baby to fit through, causing a stalling of labor. This is known as cephalopelvic disproportion. Women who require assistance with starting labor (induction), they are at a higher risk for prolonged or arrested labor. Additionally, if the contractions are too weak or are too inconsistent, this may cause prolonged labor to occur. 

 

Signs of Prolonged or Arrested Labor 

 

While healthcare providers should be monitoring all mothers very closely and should intervene in the setting of prolonged or arrested labor, there are some signs that may indicate that a woman is in prolonged or arrested labor and intervention is required. These signs include the following:

 

• Maternal dehydration
• Fetal distress
• Tachycardia
• Labor extending 14-20 hours or more
• Pain in the thighs, sides and back
• Large intestine dilation which can be identified on examination
• Tenderness of the uterus
• Decrease in the labor pains the woman is experiencing
• Abnormal contraction patterns (coupling or tripling) 
• Maternal exhaustion

 

These are just a few of the many signs that intervention is required. If a physician fails to intervene in the setting of prolonged or rested labor and a mother is exhibiting these signs, this can be quite dangerous and is considered to be medical malpractice if the mother or baby are harmed as a result. 

 

Complications of Prolonged or Arrested Labor

 

There are many complications of prolonged or arrested labor. These complications include the following:

 

• Brain damage
• Hypoxic brain injury
• Placental abruption
• Anoxic brain injury
• Umbilical cord compression
• Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
• Cerebral palsy
• Intracranial hemorrhage
• Low fetal heart rate (bradycardia)
• Low blood pressure (maternal hypotension)
• Infection or sepsis
• Seizures
• Injury to the mother during the birth of the baby (i..e cervical tears, vaginal wall tears)

 

These are just a few of the many potential complications that can occur as the result of unmanaged prolonged or arrested labor. 

 

Complications of Prolonged or Arrested Labor Relating to Medical Malpractice

 

As one can see, there are many potential things that can go wrong if prolonged/arrested labor are not properly managed. Some of these complications are catastrophic and irreversible. Examples of medical malpractice in regard to prolonged and arrested labor include the following:

 

• Failure to perform a c-section when indicated
• Failure to use labor inducing drugs to aid in labor progression when appropriate
• Failure to identify that the mother or baby are in fetal distress, leading to harm of the mother or baby
• Failure to perform other techniques to help labor progress (i.e. rupture of the membranes)
• Failure to perform a c-section prior to natural labor of the mother in situations where a vaginal birth is unsafe

 

These are just a few of the many potential examples of medical malpractice in the setting of prolonged or arrested labor resulting in birth injuries. 

 

Did Arrested Labor Leading to Birth Injuries Harm Your Family?  We Can Help

 

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.

 

Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton,  Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles,  St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.

 

We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.