O64.3: Obstructed labour due to brow presentation

Your child was lying with its forehead downwards during the birth.

In the final weeks of pregnancy, the child turns to the birth position. The child’s head then normally points downwards and lies in the mother’s pelvis. The child’s face usually faces the mother’s back and the child’s head is bent towards its chest. The child’s back is turned to the right or left side of the mother. During the birth the child is pushed through the birth canal. In the process it has to turn, stretch or bend its head so that it passes through the birth canal properly. The child’s body follows its head and accompanies it in its movements.

If the child is lying with its forehead downwards, its head is not bent as it normally would be. As a result, the child may be unable to make the usual movements in the birth canal during the birth.

There were problems during the birth due to the position of your child’s head. Problems like these can make a birth take longer than usual. It may also be the case that the child cannot then be born in the usual way, but that a Caesarean is required.