Health A-Z

Labor and delivery complications can vary widely, from minor issues to serious medical emergencies. Here's a general overview, but please remember that specific symptoms, treatments, and diagnoses can vary greatly depending on the exact complication and individual circumstances.

1. Prolonged labor: Labor lasting more than 20 hours for first-time mothers or more than 14 hours for subsequent pregnancies.
2. Fetal distress: Signs include abnormal heart rate patterns, meconium staining (the presence of fetal stool in the amniotic fluid), or decreased fetal movement.
3. Placental abruption: Symptoms may include vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, uterine tenderness, and signs of fetal distress.
4. Umbilical cord prolapse: Symptoms include sudden, severe fetal heart rate deceleration, visible or palpable cord at the vaginal introitus, and cord compression.
5. Shoulder dystocia: Difficulty delivering the shoulders after the head is delivered, leading to potential complications like brachial plexus injuries or fetal hypoxia.
6. Postpartum hemorrhage: Excessive bleeding after childbirth, which can occur due to uterine atony, retained placental tissue, genital tract trauma, or coagulation disorders.
7. Amniotic fluid embolism: Symptoms include sudden shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
8. Infection: Signs include fever, uterine tenderness, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, and maternal tachycardia.

• Close monitoring of mother and baby's vital signs.
• Intravenous fluids and medications to manage pain, prevent infection, or stabilize blood pressure.
• Oxygen therapy or assisted ventilation if respiratory distress is present.
• Emergency cesarean section for conditions like fetal distress, placental abruption, or umbilical cord prolapse.
• Manual maneuvers to resolve shoulder dystocia.
• Surgical interventions like uterine artery embolization or hysterectomy for severe postpartum hemorrhage.
• Supportive care in an intensive care setting for complications like amniotic fluid embolism.

1. Fetal monitoring: Continuous electronic fetal monitoring during labor to assess fetal heart rate patterns and uterine contractions.
2. Ultrasound: To evaluate fetal well-being, placental location, amniotic fluid volume, and detect conditions like placental abruption or umbilical cord abnormalities.
3. Pelvic examination: To assess cervical dilation, effacement, and station of the fetus.
4. Laboratory tests: Including complete blood count, coagulation profile, blood type and Rh factor, and tests for infection markers.
5. Imaging studies: Such as MRI or CT scan in certain cases for further evaluation.