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A precipitous delivery can be among the most stressful events an emergency physician encounters. The physician must assess 2 patients (mother and fetus) and be prepared to manage a variety of complications that may arise during delivery. A majority of precipitous deliveries result in good outcomes for both mother and baby, but emergency physicians must be prepared to manage feared complications, such as tight nuchal cords, shoulder dystocia, and breech presentation. An understanding of the labor process as well as advanced planning can help decrease the stress and chaos inherent to any precipitous delivery., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Any delivery in the emergency department is considered a precipitous birth and is an anxiety-producing event. Many deliveries proceed without incident. However, the emergency physician must be prepared for several dreaded scenarios, such as nuchal cord, shoulder dystocia, and breech birth. This article reviews the basics, complications, and management of such deliveries., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)