During pregnancy as well as the labour and delivery process, it is critical to ensure that the baby is getting sufficient oxygen. This is done by monitoring the fetal heart rate (since fetal heart rate changes as oxygenation increases or decreases). An abnormal heart rate may indicate that the infant is in distress. If a […]
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Parental Rights to Access Health Records After a Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you may be overwhelmed by the news and unsure of what to do next. Cerebral palsy is a birth injury that is often caused by preventable medical errors. Obtaining your child’s medical records may be the key to determining what exactly happened. To get access to […]
Financial Support for Parents of Children with Disabilities
When your child is born with a birth injury or defect, your life changes in an instant. One of the biggest challenges that many parents of kids with disabilities face is financial strain. This may arise because one parent has to stop working to care for their child or simply from the costs associated with […]
Long-Term Effects of Placental Abruption During Labour
When a person is pregnant, a placenta develops in the uterus. The placenta provides oxygen and nutrients to the baby as it grows and removes waste products from the baby’s blood. If a problem develops with the placenta, it can affect the baby and mother’s health. For example, if the placenta separates from the inner […]
Financial Assistance for NICU Stay
When a baby requires specialized care after birth, they will often be transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A baby may need to stay in the NICU for a number of reasons, including a premature birth or complications during or after labour and delivery. The cost of a NICU stay can be significant, […]
True Knot in Umbilical Cord: Long Term Effects
Every pregnant mother hopes that things will go perfectly with her pregnancy, but sadly there are many things that can go wrong during a pregnancy. In most cases, proper monitoring and medical care during pregnancy, labour, and delivery can prevent or reduce the risk of serious complications – and increase the likelihood of a safe, […]
Long Term Effects of a Nuchal Cord
During pregnancy, the umbilical cord is a lifeline for a fetus, providing all of the blood, oxygen, and nutrients that they need to grow and thrive. In some cases, however, your baby’s umbilical cord can become a danger to them – such as when it wraps around a baby’s neck, resulting in strangulation. When the […]
Signs and Symptoms of Brain Bleeds in Babies (Intracranial Hemorrhages)
A brain bleed – also known as an intracranial hemorrhage – occurs within the brain or between the brain and the skull. When this occurs, it can damage the brain tissue and cause long-term effects. In some cases, a brain bleed may even be fatal. While not all brain bleeds are preventable, there are situations […]
Most Common Signs of Fetal Distress in Babies
Fetal distress occurs when a baby’s health is compromised while it is still in the uterus. It can happen during labour and delivery or even set in before labour has started. If not caught and treated in time, it can lead to serious injury or the death of the baby. Like many health crises, fetal […]
Low Blood Sugar in Babies: Signs, Symptoms, Treatment
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, during the first 2 – 72 hours after birth remains one of the most common metabolic conditions for newborns in Canada. Low blood sugar is a disorder that occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to regulate glucose in the bloodstream. Glucose levels measure how much sugar is in […]
Greatest Risks for Cerebral Palsy Occur Prior to Birth
Knowing the risk factors of cerebral palsy can make all the difference during pregnancy. There is a whole array of factors that come into play when it comes to the increased chances of an unborn child developing cerebral palsy, and understanding all of these risk factors and how pregnant mothers can mitigate them can always […]
Inducing Labor a Little Early May Lead to Safer Childbirth
Labor induction, or inducing labor, is when a health care provider will give a pregnant woman medicine or use other methods to stimulate uterine contractions before labor begins, and potentially break the amniotic sac to start labor a little earlier than the woman’s natural pregnancy progression. Any healthcare provider may recommend inducing labor for a […]
HIE: The First Year
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a type of birth injury that happens when a newborn’s brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen due to decreased blood flow. The consequences of HIE depends on the severity of the diagnosis. Mild HIE cases can result in little or no long term impact. A diagnosis of moderate HIE can mean […]
Alberta to Begin Screening Newborns for Four New Conditions
Alberta Health Services officially introduced the screening for four new metabolic health conditions for every newborn child starting in late May, and the impact of these new tests were almost immediate felt through the diagnosis of a baby boy with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) in early July. The boy’s name is Hudson Cowie, and he […]
Activities for Children with Disabilities in Canada
A non-profit organization known as ParticipACTION conducted a survey in 2018 based on the physical activity of Canada’s youth and the overall grade Canadian students received was a D+. The report card grade is a call to action for all young Canadians to get moving, and for the very first time, this report draws attention […]
