It’s common for mothers to make significant lifestyle changes when they find out they’re pregnant. Because physicians know so much more today about fetal development than they did a generation ago, mothers replace alcohol and nicotine with supplements such as folic acid, vitamin D and calcium. They do this because they realize how significant their role is in the development of a healthy child.
Of course, there are many factors, such as genetics, outside of a mother’s control. But when a child is born, another factor determining their health comes into play: the delivery.
Birth injuries
Of the nearly 4 million babies born in the U.S. in 2017, the clear majority occurred without incident. But for mothers who have spent nine months being in relative control over their growing baby’s health, handing over the reins to a physician can be frightening.
For many mother’s, being aware of the common birth injuries and how they’re typically caused allows them the confidence to go into delivery with a plan.
Birth injuries occur in 6-8 of every 1,000 babies born in the U.S. each year. Although physicians are highly educated and driven to succeed, they fall prey to routine, just as other professionals do. Thousands of textbook deliveries can lead to a physician’s negligence that could result in an injury, or worse.
Here are 5 common birth injuries:
· Brachial Plexus Palsy (Erb’s Palsy)| Nerve damage to the baby’s upper arm affecting movement.
· Facial paralysis| Caused by pressure on facial nerves.
· Cerebral palsy| Brian damage, typically caused by infection or oxygen loss.
· Bone fractures| Occurring when force is applied, typically involving the clavicle
· Intracranial hemorrhage| Bleeding within the baby’s skull or brain caused by a wide variety of complications, injuries and mistakes.
The life of a mother is marked by moments. While many of these moments are joyful, others are not. Some of the most difficult moments are those where you realize you cannot protect your child from the outside world as well as you once did: the first day of daycare, the first day of kindergarten, the first time they drive off alone in a car.
While it’s true that delivery is one of those moments where you lose some control, empower yourself with knowledge every step of the way, and never stop fighting for the safety of your loved ones.
