In otherwise normal pregnancies, babies are macrosomic 10% of the time. If they don’t promptly perform a c-section, the baby may suffer from oxygen deprivation, which can cause a number of birth injuries, including cerebral palsy.ĬPD happens in about 1 out of every 250 births. If the labor is still slow or if labor becomes completely obstructed, doctors will perform an emergency c-section to deliver the baby. When doctors see that the baby is not moving through the birth canal as expected, they may administer a drug such as oxytocin to stimulate labor. What this means is that CPD is often diagnosed during labor, not before.ĭuring labor, doctors monitor the position of the baby in the birth canal, uterine contractions, and the dilation of the cervix. A c-section may not be indicated unless it is obvious that the baby will be too big for the mother to deliver vaginally or there is some other complication with the pregnancy such as a prior pelvic injury. Given these circumstances, doctors do not necessarily schedule a c-section in advance just because a baby looks large or a mother’s pelvis seems small. They can only estimate the baby’s size, not measure it exactly. Additionally, imaging technologies are not as precise as obstetricians would like. Many petite mothers carrying babies with heads that appear large are still able to successfully deliver vaginally. This is because the bones in the baby’s head are meant to change shape in order to pass through the birth canal. However, studies have found a poor correlation between the use of imaging technologies and labor outcomes. Ultrasounds can be used to estimate the size of the baby’s head. Obstetricians can use radiologic pelvimetry, a type of imaging technology that measures the dimensions of the mother’s pelvis, to predict or confirm CPD. Other risk-factors include polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid) and multiparity (having given birth previously, either vaginally or by c-section). The pelvis may be misshapen, have bony growths, or have a bone out of place. An injury or malformation of the pelvis can also affect childbirth. Adolescents and shorter women are more likely to experience this problem. This occurs because of a prior injury to the pelvis or genetic factors. It is also possible for mothers to have small or abnormally shaped pelvises. Post-term pregnancy (baby still hasn’t been born past due date).Mothers with diabetes or gestational diabetes.Physically large or obese parents (hereditary factors).But how does a baby grow too big to be born vaginally? Babies can be large for a number of reasons, including: About 10% of pregnancies, and 50% of pregnancies with gestational diabetes, are affected by macrosomia. Macrosomia is defined as over 8lbs 13 oz. The medical term for when the fetus is overly large is fetal macrosomia. This is either due to the baby being especially large or the mother’s pelvis being especially small. With true CPD, there is a mismatch in size between the mother’s pelvis and the baby’s head.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |