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Healthy Child Programme: final report

6.1.4. Problems During Delivery

Respondents were provided with the following options for problems during delivery and asked if the list was appropriate:

  • Shoulder dystocia
  • Foetal heart deceleration
  • Cord prolapse
  • Acute foetal compromise
  • Foetal acidaemia
  • Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
  • Acute foetal blood loss

A thematic analysis of the qualitative responses identified the following common themes and the project team’s recommended response

Problems during delivery Recommended Response
Foetal heart deceleration is common and can be a normal part of labour Remove these options and replace with ‘Foetal distress’
Acute foetal compromise was felt to be vague
Foetal acidaemia is not an isolated finding and is usually because of one of the other problems during delivery
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome is diagnosed after the birth however Meconium Aspiration may be present at birth Change to ‘Meconium Aspiration’

Page last updated: 30 March 2026