What Causes Cephalopelvic Disproportion?
Posted in Birth Injuries on April 5, 2022
Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) is a condition where a baby has trouble going through the birth canal. The difficulties could be caused by a variety of reasons, including the size of the baby’s head, the size or shape of the mother’s pelvis, or the baby’s positioning. Here, our Seattle birth injury lawyers want to discuss cephalopelvic disproportion, the complications that can arise due to cephalopelvic disproportion, and whether or not this is a situation where a medical professional is to blame.
Understanding Cephalopelvic Disproportion
Information from the American Pregnancy Association says that cephalopelvic disproportion “is a condition where the baby’s head or body is too large to fit through the mother apostrophe’s pelvis.” This occurs when the:
- Baby is too big
- Pelvis is too small
- Baby is in a wrong position
- Relationship between the pelvis and the baby is incorrect
Cephalopelvic disproportion is a rare condition and is often only diagnosed after a woman’s labor fails to progress appropriately, if the cervix stops dilating, or if the baby does not descend. Health care professionals say that when a diagnosis of cephalopelvic disproportion has been properly made, the safest delivery option for the baby and mother is a C-section. Most imaging technologies that are used before a birth or unable to adequately predict whether or not cephalopelvic disproportion will occur during the delivery.
Cephalopelvic disproportion is not the fault of medical professionals. Some of the most common causes of CPD include the baby becoming too large as a result of hereditary factors, diabetes, a baby coming after the expected due date, and second or subsequent pregnancies in general. Additionally, abnormally shaped or smaller pelvises are much more likely to result in CPD.
Do You Need an Attorney?
There may be various reasons why a person would need an attorney after a cephalopelvic disproportion diagnosis. As we mentioned above, this diagnosis usually is not made until after labor begins. In the event the medical professionals involved in the delivery process are not adequately trained, they may fail to adequately diagnose CPD. This could lead to an unnecessarily prolonged labor, which can cause additional side effects, including maternal and fetal distress. Ultimately, a prolonged delivery could lead to various types of birth defects, birth injuries, or even the death of the mother or child.
Once CPD has been diagnosed, the medical professionals involved should move towards a cesarean section unless they believe there is a better delivery option.
If you or your child have been injured and there was a cephalopelvic disproportion diagnosis, encourage you to reach out to a skilled birth injury lawyer in Seattle as soon as possible. A medical malpractice lawyer can get involved and conduct a complete investigation into the incident. Please understand that birth injury and medical malpractice claims are incredibly challenging, and it is crucial to handle these cases correctly with legal assistance. A lawyer can evaluate the situation and help determine whether or not you may have a case moving forward. If you do, it may be possible to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering damages.