Complications of Childbirth

Complications list for Childbirth:

The list of complications that have been mentioned in various sources for Childbirth includes:

• Complications to the child - many possible effects may occur to the child during and after childbirth:
  • Normal healthy child - this is the most likely outcome.
• Possible complications involving death of the child during or after childbirth:
  • Stillbirth
  • Birth asphyxia
  • Entangled umbilical cord
  • Meconium aspiration
  • And many more possibilities
• Possible non-death complications or other outcomes to the child may include:
  • Neonatal jaundice - this is very common.
  • Birth asphyxia
  • Brain damage
  • Permanent brain damage
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Neonatal infections
  • Meconium aspiration
  • And many more possibilities
• Possible medical disorders affecting the child (many are not related to the actual delivery):
  • Birth defects
  • Congenital heart defects
  • And many more possibilities
• Complications to the mother - many possible effects occur to the mother during and after childbirth:
  • Normal healthy mother - this is the most likely outcome.
  • Episiotomy
  • Obstetric trauma
  • Bladder incontinence
  • Fecal incontinence
  • Pelvic floor dysfunction
  • And many more possibilities

See also the symptoms of Childbirth and Childbirth: Introduction.

Medical news summaries about complications of Childbirth:

The following medical news items are relevant to complications of Childbirth:

• Asymptomatic infection may be the cause of pre-term births
• Doctors failure to monitor unborn baby results in death from choking umbilical cord
• Mother wrongly told her newborn was suffering from brain damage
• More news »

Complication statistics for Childbirth:

The following are statistics from various sources about the complications of Childbirth:

• Poorly controlled diabetes before conception and during first trimester of pregnancy can cause major birth defects in 5-10% of pregnancies in the US 2001 (National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet, NIDDK, 2003)
• Poorly controlled diabetes during 2nd and third trimester of pregnancy can cause overly large babies in the US 2001 (National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet, NIDDK, 2003)
• Poorly controlled diabetes before conception and during first trimester of pregnancy can cause spontaneous abortions in 15-20% of pregnancies in the US 2001 (National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet, NIDDK, 2003)
• Statistics about rates of birth injury in childbirth:
  • 6.68 birth trauma injuries occurred per 1,000 live births in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • 6.83 birth trauma injuries occurred per 1,000 live male births in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • 5.06 birth trauma injuries occurred per 1,000 live female births in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • 7.15 birth trauma injuries occurred per 1,000 live births in private, not-for-profit hospitals in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • 4.33 birth trauma injuries occurred per 1,000 live births in private, for-profit hospitals in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • 6.11 birth trauma injuries occurred per 1,000 live births in public hospitals in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • 5.36 birth trauma injuries occurred per 1,000 live births in hospitals with less than 100 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • 5.45 birth trauma injuries occurred per 1,000 live births in hospitals with 100 to 299 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • 8.57 birth trauma injuries occurred per 1,000 live births in hospitals with 300 to 499 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • 7.1 birth trauma injuries occurred per 1,000 live births in hospitals with over 500 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
• Incidence rate statistics for Obstetric trauma (to the mother) in childbirth in the USA:
  • Estimated 5.97 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 Cesarean deliveries in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 2.85 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 Cesarean deliveries in women aged 15 to 17 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 3.6 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 Cesarean deliveries in women aged 18 to 24 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 5.52 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 Cesarean deliveries in women aged 25 to 34 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 7.67 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 Cesarean deliveries in women aged 35 to 54 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 6.2 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 Cesarean deliveries in private, not-for-profit hospitals in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 5.03 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 Cesarean deliveries in private, for-profit hospitals in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 5.56 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 Cesarean deliveries in public hospitals in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 5.91 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 Cesarean deliveries in hospitals with less than 100 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 5.2 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 Cesarean deliveries in hospitals with 100 to 299 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 5.33 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 Cesarean deliveries in hospitals with 300 to 499 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 8.22 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 Cesarean deliveries in hospitals with over 500 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 86.66 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 unassisted vaginal deliveries in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 103.28 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 unassisted vaginal deliveries in women aged 10 to 14 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 101.06 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 unassisted vaginal deliveries in women aged 15 to 17 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 87.47 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 unassisted vaginal deliveries in women aged 18 to 24 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 75.73 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 unassisted vaginal deliveries in women aged 25 to 34 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 58.05 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 unassisted vaginal deliveries in women aged 35 to 54 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 88.5 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 unassisted vaginal deliveries in private, not-for-profit hospitals in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 76.73 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 unassisted vaginal deliveries in private, for-profit hospitals in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 85.02 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 unassisted vaginal deliveries in public hospitals in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 80.65 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 unassisted vaginal deliveries in hospitals with less than 100 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 83.75 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 unassisted vaginal deliveries in hospitals with 100 to 299 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 89.33 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 unassisted vaginal deliveries in hospitals with 300 to 499 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 91.88 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 unassisted vaginal deliveries in hospitals with over 500 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 244.29 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 298.73 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries in women aged 10 to 14 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 241.6 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries in women aged 15 to 17 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 240.39 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries in women aged 18 to 24 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 273.33 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries in women aged 25 to 34 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 252.46 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries in women aged 35 to 54 in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 251.81 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries in private, not-for-profit hospitals in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 214.06 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries in private, for-profit hospitals in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 231.36 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries in public hospitals in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 211 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries in hospitals with less than 100 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 232.51 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries in hospitals with 100 to 299 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 253.55 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries in hospitals with 300 to 499 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)
  • Estimated 271.93 obstetric traumas occurred per 1,000 instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries in hospitals with over 500 beds in the US 2000 (National Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ, DHHS, 2003)

You may also want to research other symptoms in our Symptoms Center.

About complications:

Complications of Childbirth are secondary conditions, symptoms, or other disorders that are caused by Childbirth. In many cases the distinction between symptoms of Childbirth and complications of Childbirth is unclear or arbitrary.