This paper reviews the current evidence regarding the prediction, prevention and management of impacted fetal head at caesarean birth.
Plain-language summary
Over one-quarter of women in the UK have a caesarean birth (CB). More than one in 20 of these caesarean births occurs near the end of labour, when the cervix is fully dilated (second stage). In these circumstances, and when labour has been prolonged, the baby’s head can become lodged deep in the maternal pelvis making it challenging to deliver the baby. During the CB, difficulty in delivery of the baby’s head may result - this emergency is known as impacted fetal head (IFH). These are technically challenging births that pose significant risks to both the woman and baby. Complications for the woman include tears in the womb, serious bleeding and longer hospital stays. Babies are at increased risk of injury including damage to the head and face, lack of oxygen to the brain, nerve damage, and in rare cases, the baby may die from these complications.
Maternity staff are increasingly encountering IFH at CB, and reports of associated injuries have risen dramatically in recent years. The latest UK studies suggest that IFH may complicate as many as one in 10 unplanned caesarean births (1.5% of all births) and that two in 100 babies affected by IFH die or are seriously injured. Moreover, there has been a sharp increase in reports of babies having brain injuries when their birth was complicated by IFH.
When an IFH occurs, the maternity team can use different approaches to help deliver the baby’s head at CB. These include: an assistant (another obstetrician or midwife) pushing the head up from the vagina; delivering the baby’s feet first; using a specially designed inflatable balloon device to elevate the baby’s head and/or giving the mother a medicine to relax the womb. However, there is currently no consensus for how best to manage these births. This has resulted in a lack of confidence among maternity staff, variable practice and potentially avoidable harm in some circumstances.
Version history: This is the second edition of this paper.
Please note that the Scientific Advisory Committee regularly assesses the need to update. Further information on this review is available on request.
Developer declaration of interests: Available upon request.
Published: 25 November 2025