Giving birth to a child can be one of the most wonderful things in life. You and your partner should be free from worry during this joyous time. Unfortunately, there are a few things that can happen during birth that can shatter your happiness.
Birth injuries have a variety of causes. Many of these are preventable.
Lack of oxygen
Although lack of oxygen can occur any time during the pregnancy, it is most common during birth. Lack of oxygen can cause brain damage, cerebral palsy, delayed speech, learning disabilities hearing and vision problems. Most of these situations are entirely preventable.
Overstretching
When a baby’s limb or appendage becomes hyper-extended during birth, it can lead to lasting nerve damage. They label these types of injuries brachial plexus injuries or Erb’s palsy. These injuries are usually due to a midwife or doctor pulls on the baby’s appendage during the birthing process.
Forcep or pressure injuries
This can be cranial trauma or a spinal cord injury. When a doctor or midwife exerts pressure on the head or spine during birth, it can cause this type of injury.
Another result of forcep or pressure injury is a skull fracture. The softness of the skull makes it particularly vulnerable.
Lack of proper treatment
Lack of proper treatment before, during and after birth can also cause severe injuries. This can result in the death of the mother or child. Many of these types of injuries are due to medical malpractice.
Although birth injuries are not always the result of improper care during delivery, it happens more often than it should. Knowing the typical causes can help.
