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Brain Injuries from Oxygen
Deprivation/Meconium Aspiration Syndrome:
Meconium is stool a baby may pass during birth. Meconium can be a sign that the fetus is in distress. It may be visible
in the amniotic fluid prior to delivery, as a greenish/brownish
substance. If the baby aspirates the meconium, serious consequences can
occur.
Meconium aspiration, also referred to as meconium
aspiration syndrome (MAS), is a common cause of severe illness in
newborns. Once meconium has been aspirated into the lungs, it can cause
a chemical pneumonia. These babies are at high risk of becoming very
sick very quickly. An infant with severe meconium aspiration who
requires mechanical ventilation may have a more guarded outcome. Lack of
oxygen in the uterus or from complications of meconium aspiration may
lead to severe and permanent brain damage including Cerebral Palsy.
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Cerebral Palsy:
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is an incurable medical condition caused by a
permanent brain injury that can occur before, during, or shortly after
birth. The following events may be contributing factors to developing
cerebral palsy: meconium aspiration, infection during pregnancy,
jaundice, RH incompatibility, oxygen shortage, stroke, toxicity,
bleeding, kidney infections, and urinary tract infections. Permanent
injuries, including CP, from these complications during pregnancy can be
avoided by receiving proper prenatal, labor & delivery and
post-natal medical care.
Studies have shown that there has been an increase in doctor error,
birthing mistakes, and medical malpractice associated with Cerebral
Palsy. A physician may have failed to properly monitor the mother and
fetus or misread fetal monitoring equipment, failed to comprehend signs
and symptoms of fetal distress during labor, failed to timely recommend
cesarean section delivery, improperly administered medication during
labor, failed to timely and or properly suction the newborn or render
other necessary care.
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Arm Paralysis and Clavicle
Fractures:
Brachial Plexus Palsy (BPP), also known as Erb's Palsy or Brachial
Plexus Injury (BPI) can occur when damage is caused to nerves in the
baby’s shoulder during birth. Complications include permanent,
partial, or total loss of function of the limb and affected nerves and
symptoms include a limp or paralyzed arm, lack of muscle control in the
arm, hand, or wrist, and lack of feeling or sensation in the arm or
hand.
This can occur when the baby’s shoulder gets caught and stretched
behind the pelvic bone during delivery. For example, it can occur if the
infant's head and neck are pulled toward the side as the shoulders pass
through the birth canal. The condition can also be caused by excessive
pulling on the shoulders during a vertex delivery (head first) or by
pressure on the raised arms during a breech delivery (feet first).
Larger babies are at a higher risk for deliveries that involve damage to
their shoulder, and thus at higher risk for Erb's palsy. For the same
reason, mothers who have a smaller pelvic opening will also have a
greater risk for delivering an infant with Erb's palsy. Other risk
factors include maternal diabetes, prolonged labor, and an infant that
presents in the breech position or induction of labor.
The infant may have varying degrees of arm paralysis as follows:
- Brachial plexus injuries typically affect only the upper arm;
- Erb's paralysis affects the upper arm and rotation of the lower
arm; and
- Klumpke paralysis affects the hand (the infant may also have an
eyelid droop on the opposite side).
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Clavicle Fractures:
When newborns experience fractures it frequently involves the clavicle.
If the shoulders are too wide to fit through the birth canal, or if the
baby it not positioned correctly, one of the clavicles can break. The
classical signs of a neonatal clavicular fracture are instability,
abnormal motion or crepitations (the sound bone ends rubbing makes) at
the fracture site, swelling at the fracture site, or asymmetry in arm
movement.
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Prenatal Infections:
The common bacterium, Group B streptococcus (GBS), is the leading cause of
life-threatening infections among newborns, including meningitis, neonatal
septicemia (bacterial bloodstream infection), and pneumonia. For women,
Group B strep can lead to urinary tract infections, womb infections, and
stillbirth.
GBS infections can only be prevented through proper medical care including
timely testing and antibiotics, even during the actual birth.
Other infections during pregnancy that require timely and proper medical
care include:
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Chicken pox
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Fifth disease
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German measles (rubella)
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Hepatitis B
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Herpes
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Listeriosis
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Toxoplasmosis
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Urinary tract infections
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Vaginal infections
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