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, […]
Birth Injuries
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Information about Birth Injury Childcare
Children who endure birth injuries will often have an array of disabilities that will last over the course of their lifetime. These disabilities may include cerebral palsy, in which a child has physical and cognitive disabilities therapy, treatment and lifelong care. Some birth injuries will only affect one specific area, for instance, mental impairment or physical […]
How is Cerebral Palsy Treated? What parents need to know
Cerebral palsy (CP) the diagnosis given to a collection of symptoms caused by an injury to the brain that impacts (among other things) muscle control. CP has many causes (including hypoxia during labour and delivery), a wide range of manifestations, and no known cure. So, if your child has been diagnosed with CP what type […]
How Does Cerebral Palsy Affect Social Development?
The creation and building of social relationships are one of many milestones that children affected by cerebral palsy may have difficulty in achieving. But how exactly does cerebral palsy affect social development, especially as children are learning how to walk, talk, and interact with others? Whether it is due to mobility, difficulties in communicating needs […]
Birth Injury Myths and Facts
Distinguishing the facts from the myths surrounding birth injuries can be an overwhelming and stressful endeavor for current and future parents alike. No parent enjoys thinking about the thought of something happening to their child—or remembering that something has happened to them—but understanding the facts (and your legal options) can be an immense aid for […]
Forceps Delivery Cause Trauma to Mother & Baby
New Study Shows that 1 in 4 Forceps Deliveries Cause Trauma to Mothers and Babies A recently published study of over two million one-baby deliveries conducted by the Canadian Medical Association Journal has revealed that, between 2004 and 2014, the rate of birth injuries involving forceps delivery has sharply increased from a rate of 19.4 […]
What is the Limitation Period for Your Birth Injury Claim In Canada?
Many parents of children injured at birth are surprised to learn the length of time that they have to start a legal claim as birth injury compensation on behalf of their child. In most provinces in Canada, the limitation period is suspended while the child is a minor, after which a 2-year limitation period typically […]
Fort Nelson, B.C. Cannot Support Expecting Mothers
Insufficient Staffing Closes Maternity Services A November 28, 2017 memo from Airport Way Medical Clinic announced the permanent discontinuation of Maternity Services in Fort Nelson, British Columbia. The memo stated the reason being is that there is simply not enough staffing support to ensure safe obstetric care. Expecting mothers of Fort Nelson are now unable […]
Lucas Warren – The New Face of Gerber
2018 Gerber Baby Search With thousands of hopeful parents and babies seeking to be featured in Gerber ads each year, the Gerber Photo Search contest has captivated the nation every year since its 2010 conception. The 2017 search proved no different as parents submitted over 140,000 photos of their smiling babies, with the hope that […]
Patterns of Brain Injury in Babies with HIE – The “Watershed” Injury
The pattern and distribution of brain injury provide important information which, in combination with the labour and delivery records, allows us to work backward to figure out how and when a baby was injured. Importantly, it also helps to predict what parents can expect for their child’s recovery and quality of life. These injuries are […]
