Questions to Ask Your OB or Hospital After a Difficult Delivery

A difficult delivery can leave families feeling mixed emotions, including relief that the baby is here and anxiety about complications. In the days that follow, information often comes in bits and pieces: varying explanations from staff, unclear medical terms, and brief discharge papers. To better understand what happened and what follow-up care is needed for both parent and baby, ask questions early.

The goal is to get clear answers, not to confront anyone. Families deserve straightforward information, especially if the baby needs NICU care or shows signs of distress. If you need help later, a Conshohocken Cerebral Palsy Lawyer can guide you on important documents and the proper steps to take.

What Happened During Labor That Made the Delivery “Difficult”?

Start by asking your OB to describe the turning points in plain language. What explains the difficulty—slow dilation, lack of descent, fetal positioning, suspected large baby, infection, or fetal heart rate concerns? Ask when the team first recognized the problem and what indicators led to that conclusion. These details help you understand whether the situation developed gradually or emerged suddenly.

You can also ask what the team was watching for and what signs suggested the baby was tolerating labor well—or not. A simple timeline can help: when labor began, when membranes ruptured, when pushing started, and when the team decided to change the plan. Understanding that flow makes the rest of your questions easier.

What Did the Fetal Heart Monitor Show, and Were There Signs of Distress?

Fetal monitoring is often central in difficult deliveries, but parents rarely receive a clear explanation of what the patterns mean. Ask whether there were “non-reassuring” patterns, decelerations, or prolonged periods of concern. If there were, ask what interventions were tried—position changes, oxygen, fluids, medication adjustments, stopping Pitocin, or amnioinfusion—and whether those steps improved the tracing.

If the baby required resuscitation or NICU care, ask whether that was linked to fetal distress during labor or to a separate issue after birth. It may also help to ask whether the fetal monitoring strips are part of the record and how to request them, since these can be critical for understanding what occurred over time.

Were Any Delivery Emergencies Declared, Such as Shoulder Dystocia?

If your baby had difficulty delivering the shoulders, ask directly whether shoulder dystocia occurred and whether it was documented. Families often learn this later, sometimes only after reading records or hearing it indirectly. Ask what maneuvers were used, how long the dystocia lasted, and whether additional staff were called into the room.

If shoulder dystocia was present, ask what factors may have contributed—baby’s size, positioning, maternal diabetes, prolonged labor, or instrument use. This information can help explain certain injuries that appear in the newborn period, such as brachial plexus injury, fractures, or significant bruising.

Were Instruments Used, and If So, Why and for How Long?

If a vacuum or forceps were used, ask why that choice was made and what alternatives were considered. Was the baby’s head position appropriate for assisted delivery? How many attempts were made, and were there any difficulties, such as “pop-offs” with vacuum extraction? Ask whether the attempt was stopped promptly when progress was not occurring.

Instrument use isn’t automatically inappropriate, but it does raise questions about technique, timing, and judgment—especially if the baby experienced trauma, significant swelling, bleeding concerns, or low Apgar scores. A clear explanation can help families understand whether the intervention fits the situation or whether escalation should have happened sooner.

Why Was a Cesarean Not Done Earlier, or Why Was It Done When It Was?

In many difficult deliveries, families wonder why a cesarean happened late—or why it didn’t happen at all. Ask what criteria the team used to decide whether to continue with vaginal delivery or move to surgery. If labor was prolonged or distress was present, ask what delayed the decision and whether there were opportunities to intervene earlier.

If a cesarean did occur, ask whether it was emergent or urgent, what prompted it, and whether there were any complications during the procedure. Understanding the reasoning helps you make sense of what happened and can also guide future pregnancy planning, especially if there is a risk of recurrence.

What Should We Watch for in the Baby Over the Next Weeks and Months?

After a difficult delivery, newborns may face issues that are not fully apparent at discharge. Ask what symptoms should prompt immediate evaluation—poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, persistent high-pitched crying, seizures, breathing changes, jaundice that worsens, or decreased movement on one side. Ask specifically about tone concerns: unusual stiffness, unusual floppiness, or persistent asymmetry.

Also, ask what follow-ups are recommended and when. Should the baby see a neurologist, developmental specialist, orthopedist, or physical therapist? If the baby had low oxygen levels, required ventilation, or had a complicated NICU stay, ask what developmental screening schedule is recommended and whether early intervention referrals should be initiated now rather than later.

What Should the Birthing Parent Monitor During Recovery?

Difficult deliveries can also involve significant maternal complications, and parents often downplay their own symptoms while focusing on the baby. Ask what is normal and what is not regarding bleeding, pain, fever, severe headaches, vision changes, swelling, shortness of breath, or signs of infection. If there was extensive tearing or operative delivery, ask how recovery may differ and what supports are available.

If you experienced a traumatic birth, ask about mental health support as well. Anxiety, intrusive memories, and postpartum depression can be intensified after emergency delivery or NICU experiences. Knowing what resources exist—counseling, support groups, postpartum check-ins—can be just as important as physical recovery guidance.

How Do We Get the Full Medical Records, Not Just the Discharge Summary?

Discharge paperwork often feels incomplete because it is a summary, not the full record. Ask how to request complete medical records for both parent and baby, including labor and delivery notes, anesthesia records, nursing notes, operative reports, fetal monitoring strips, NICU records, and imaging results, if any. Ask whether the hospital can provide records electronically and how long the request typically takes to process.

It can also help to ask whether there were incident reports or internal reviews. These may not always be provided in standard requests, but asking early helps you understand what documentation exists. Explain that you are trying to ensure proper follow-up care and a complete understanding of the delivery events.

Clarity Now Helps Protect Health Later

After a difficult delivery, asking direct questions can help families understand what occurred, what risks to watch for, and what follow-up care is needed. A clear explanation and complete records support better medical decisions, early intervention when necessary, and peace of mind when things are uncertain. Even if you are not sure whether anything was mishandled, gathering information early keeps your options open and helps your family move forward with greater confidence.