5 Serious Birth Injuries That Can Impact a Newborn’s Life
5 Serious Birth Injuries That Can Impact a Newborn’s Life
Taking a newborn home should be a joyful experience. However, if labor or delivery has issues, the consequence is life-changing. Birth injuries, as best as possible, can be prevented but have long-term impacts on a child’s life and well-being.
From disability in motion to mental retardation, the impact of the injuries impacts a family in many ways. Understanding the most serious birth injuries is the start of the battle for your baby’s care. The following five are severe birth injuries that parents should be aware of.
Cerebral Palsy – Serious Birth Injuries That Can Impact a Newborn’s Life
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a severe and widespread birth injury. It impacts a baby’s movement, motor function, and muscle tone. It is formed as a result of abnormal brain development or injury to the developing brain. Usually, this happens in the course of birth and results in lifelong physical and mental disability. Also, it can be expressed in the form of tight muscles, poor coordination and speech, or impaired mobility.
Early management and treatment can improve the quality of life and reduce symptoms. The condition cannot be cured, but most of them go on to receive ongoing medical and support care for the rest of their lives. Brain damage at birth is one of the main reasons behind CP, and proper and immediate attention at the time of birth is always vital here.
Brachial Plexus Injury
Brachial plexus injury occurs when the nerves that carry messages from the spine down along the shoulder and arm to the hand are injured. It may occur when the shoulder becomes stuck during delivery (shoulder dystocia). Or it can happen after applying too much force to shift the shoulder.
Depending on the severity of the damage, this injury will lead to paralysis, loss of feeling, or weakness of the injured limb. Minor damage will be reversible through physiotherapy, but extensive damage can be operated on and can be completely disabling. The sooner the treatment and diagnosis, the better the prognosis.
Skull Fracture
During an aided or forced delivery, the delicate baby skull can break in most instances if forceps or vacuum extraction are employed. The fracture can be slight, a crack along an axis that will cure, or a severe, large, depressed fracture causing injury to the brain tissue underneath.
While some of the fractured skulls will recover without treatment, others will cause long-term harm in the form of developmental delay or brain damage. Observation and imaging will then usually be needed to assess the trauma’s severity and optimal management.
Perinatal Asphyxia – 5 Serious Birth Injuries That Can Impact a Newborn’s Life
Perinatal asphyxia is a consequence of insufficient oxygenation of the pregnant woman’s fetus before, at, or even during delivery. Its most severe effect is damage to the organs, growth retardation, and death. It can be due to the placenta, abnormalities in the umbilical cord, or labor delay.
Perinatal asphyxia survivors can be treated with intensive medical management, such as resuscitation and, in some instances, therapeutic hypothermia to restrict the degree of brain injury. Prognosis after a long time will depend on whether hypoxia has been diagnosed and treated promptly.
Intracranial Hemorrhage
Bleeding within the infant’s brain is referred to as intracranial hemorrhage and can result from birth trauma or previous conditions such as prematurity or bleeding-clotting disorder. The damage can be particularly harmful as it pressures the delicate tissue in the brain.
The symptoms are seizures, lethargy, and poor feeding. Medical attention should be sought immediately to avoid permanent brain damage. The treatment can be surgery or medication, depending on the severity of the case, and the outcome can be mild disability in learning or severe neurological disability.
Endnote – 5 Serious Birth Injuries That Can Impact a Newborn’s Life
Delivery traumas are dangerous, but early diagnosis and medical attention can be a great deal to salvage a baby’s life if hurt during delivery. Being aware of the injuries as a parent allows for the necessary action plans medically and legally. Consider working closely with a specialized birth injury attorney who will guide you in seeking justice.
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