Common Injuries Occurring at Birth
Many birth injuries are related to brain injury, which often stems from a disruption of the blood flow to the baby’s brain, stroke, or hemorrhage (bleeding). This event can occur before labour, during labour and delivery, or after birth. Other common injuries involve the nerves in a baby’s spinal column arising from shoulder dystocia, and injuries arising from treatable genetic conditions. Learn about common types of birth injuries below.
Autism Caused by Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social deficits (social communication and social interaction) and restricted repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. Intellectual disability and seizures are also common in children with an autism spectrum disorder. Autism spectrum disorder encompasses a number of disorders that were previously referred to as autistic disorder/autism, childhood […]
Behavioral Problems
One of the issues to consider in the context of a child with behavioral issues is whether those issues may be due to a brain injury acquired during labour and delivery. Sometimes the behavioral issues meet the autism diagnostic criteria. However, not all children with behavioral issues meet that criteria and it is the task […]
Brachial Plexus Injuries
A brachial plexus injury is an injury to the nerves in the neck of the baby. This injury can occur when the baby’s shoulder gets stuck on the mother’s pubic bone during the course of delivery. This is often referred to as shoulder dystocia. Shoulder dystocia is an obstetrical emergency. The baby is at a […]
Cerebral Palsy
Sadly, a common type of birth injury claim is one involving neurologic injury to a newborn caused by the failure of the obstetrical team (doctors, nurses, midwives) to intervene or expedite delivery in the face of fetal distress. If the baby is incapable of tolerating the intrauterine environment for whatever reason, an urgent delivery by […]
Delayed Diagnosis of Heart Defects
Some babies are born with congenital heart defects, which are problems that occur with the baby’s heart while the baby is developing in utero. These can be structural (such as a problem with a valve or a blockage) or functional (such as problems with heart rhythm). In some instances, these conditions are not diagnosed until […]
Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s Palsy and Brachial Plexus Injuries Erb’s palsy, is a type of nerve injury that causes paralysis in the shoulder and arm. It is sometimes referred to as Brachial plexus palsy. There is a network of nerves, called the brachial plexus that runs from your neck, into your shoulders and arms. If your baby’s brachial […]
Failure to Diagnose or Treat Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-induced condition characterized by high blood pressure which generally develops late in pregnancy (after week 20). An estimated 8-10% of pregnant women are diagnosed with preeclampsia during pregnancy. If not properly diagnosed and treated, preeclampsia can lead to life-threatening illness in both the mother and her unborn baby. Below we […]
Fetal & Neonatal Stroke
For many years it was assumed that fetal or neonatal strokes were not preventable. Recent studies, however, have shown that some strokes suffered in the fetal time period are due to preventable hypoxic-ischemic episodes (an inadequate supply of oxygen to the brain) during labour. A brain injury can result directly from a hypoxic-ischemic […]
Hypoglycemia
Brain cells require glucose to live and function. A reduction in a newborn baby’s glucose (hypoglycemia) can, if significant enough, result in the brain cells dying and a resultant permanent brain injury. During pregnancy, the baby receives the necessary glucose from mom. When the baby is delivered, the glucose supply from mom stops and the […]
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
Oxygen Deprivation During Labour and Delivery The medical term is hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This simply means brain sickness from inadequate oxygenation to the brain. The fetus receives his or her necessary oxygen and nutrients from the mother through the umbilical cord. If this mechanism of delivery of oxygen and nutrients is compromised the […]
Jaundice, Kernicterus & Hyperbilirubinemia
Kernicterus, a brain injury caused by excessive bilirubin is described by physicians as a “never event”. It is referred to as a never event not because it never happens, but because it should never happen. Jaundice is very common, occurring in over 50% of births. Jaundice occurs with excessive bilirubin, a byproduct of the breakdown […]
Meconium & Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
The existence of meconium during labour can be a significant sign of fetal distress during labour and delivery. Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS) can be a significant complication during labour and delivery and can lead to long term, or permanent injury. Some basic medicine Before we get into the discussion of meconium and meconium aspiration syndrome […]
Negligent Resuscitation of a Newborn
Despite the fact that there have been very clear guidelines published by the Canadian Pediatric Society under its neonatal resuscitation program, there are still instances where newborns requiring resuscitation suffer a brain injury simply because these guidelines were not followed. The simple fact is that every person who chooses to deliver babies and every hospital […]
Newborn Infections
A newborn baby, particularly a small or preterm baby, is at risk of suffering a neurological injury if he or she becomes infected. The mother may be carrying Group B Strep bacteria, which can be passed on to the baby as the baby is delivered. As well, the infection can occur during labour affecting the placenta […]
Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL)
This brain injury is seen in some babies who are born prematurely. The more premature the baby the higher the risk of this injury occurring. The medical term, Periventricular Leukomalacia, refers to an injury to the white matter of the brain around the ventricles. The premature baby does not have a developed system for the […]
Seizures
Seizures in the neonatal period are not uncommon, particularly with premature infants. While they can be caused by a number of different conditions, they signify abnormal electrical discharges in the newborn’s central nervous system. Seizures can be related to serious medical conditions and require urgent investigation, often by EEG (a test to identify abnormalities in […]
Trauma from Forceps & Vacuum
There is a risk of trauma with the use of vacuum or forceps. While the risk is small, injuries such as retinal hemorrhage and hematomas can result from the use of vacuums and forceps. As a general rule, it is not acceptable to use both forceps and vacuum to deliver a baby and the obstetrician […]
Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome
What is a twin to twin transfusion syndrome and how can it place your babies at risk? Twin pregnancies can occur as either dizygotic (fraternal twins) or monozygotic (identical twins). In the case of a dizygotic (fraternal) pregnancy the twins are the result of fertilization of two separate eggs. In the case of monozygotic (identical) pregnancy […]
Whole Body Cooling
Within the last number of years, there have been significant advances in the knowledge and use of head and whole-body cooling to reduce the extent of brain injury associated with a hypoxic ischemic event (an inadequate supply of oxygen to the brain) and birth injuries. Those healthcare professionals that practice obstetrics, and physicians who […]
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