The Cervical Lip: Complications During Birth

Even in pregnancies that are healthy and uncomplicated, it’s still possible for issues to come up during labor and delivery that can increase the risk of injuries to both the mother and the baby. A cervical lip is one example of this. A cervical lip occurs when the cervix doesn’t fully dilate as it’s supposed to and part of it, typically the anterior edge, blocks the baby from entering the birth canal. When this happens, it can be extremely painful because it causes the mother to fight against the urge to push. It also increases the chances that some type of intervention will be needed to help get the baby out.  It’s not exactly clear what causes cervical lip. Some believe that it can be linked to the position of the baby’s head or anatomical factors. 04

When cervical lip occurs, there are several different options that can be used to help move things along. Many of those options are non-invasive, such as changing positions or walking around to help take pressure off of the cervix or to move the baby into a different position. But if those non-invasive options don’t help or there are signs of the baby being in distress, a doctor might need to manually move the cervical lip, use tools like forceps or vacuum extraction, or order a C-section. 

Birth assisting tools like forceps and vacuum extraction can be safe when used correctly. But if they’re not used appropriately, they can potentially cause injuries. For example, improperly used forceps can have an increased risk of injuries to the baby which range from bruising to skull fractures, bleeding in the brain, and facial palsy. Or in the case of vacuum extraction, there’s a risk of causing blood vessels to rupture, leading to blood pooling in the head. These injuries include subgaleal hematoma and cephalohematoma. Cases of subgaleal hematoma have the potential to be life threatening because of the pressure they can cause within the skull. 

If the baby has gone into distress, it may be best for the doctor to order a C-section. Waiting too long to order a C-section can potentially cause a wide range of birth injuries such as brain injuries like HIE and other complications related to a lack of oxygen. 

Contact a Michigan Birth Injury Lawyer

Cases of birth injuries are often cases of medical malpractice, and if you believe your child was injured around the time of birth, it’s important to have a lawyer on your side who can help your family get justice. Lawyers at Scott Goodwin Law are experienced in handling both birth trauma cases and medical malpractice cases. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation where you can get answers to any questions you might have and learn more about your legal options. Even if your child was a few years old when you started seeing symptoms of a birth injury, you may still have legal options.