Birth injuries can take on many different forms and be caused by a variety of factors.
The following are among the most common birth injuries:
Brachial Palsy
Brachial palsy results from damage to a child’s brachial plexus, the network of nerves controlling the arms and hands.
The injury occurs when there are issues delivering the child’s shoulder through the birth canal.
Babies suffering from brachial palsy cannot flex or rotate the injured arm.
Brachial palsy is typically treatable within a few months of birth with special physical therapies and exercises.
In instances where the nerves are damaged, the injury can be permanent.
About 1 or 2 of every 1,000 babies has this condition.
Bruising and Forceps Marks
Skull and facial bruising can occur when the baby naturally passes through the birth canal or comes in contact with the mother’s tissues and pelvic bones.
Babies delivered with forceps or by vacuum extraction might also suffer from bruises, marks, or lacerations.
Caput Succedaneum
Caput succedaneum refers to the swelling of the scalp’s soft tissues.
Caput develops when the baby moves through the birth canal and is often combined with scalp bruising.
The swelling typically diminishes naturally within a few days.
Caput is more likely to occur during vacuum extraction.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a developmental disorder that can affect movement and muscular development.
It’s caused by damage to the motor cortex, the part of the brain responsible for muscle control and coordination.
Children with cerebral palsy often struggle with walking, balance, maintaining posture, and fine motor skills.
Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in young children.
Approximately 500,000 children and adults are affected by cerebral palsy with up to 8,000 babies and 1,500 young children diagnosed annually.
Certain children are at greater risk of developing cerebral palsy at birth, including those born prematurely, newborns with low birth weight, cases of extended or difficult labor, newborns with meningitis or another brain infection, or in cases of fetal distress.
Cephalohematoma
Cephalohematoma is bleeding between the skull bone and its fibrous outer layer.
The injury typically appears as a lump on the baby’s head within a few hours of birth.
Cephalohematoma usually goes away naturally when the body reabsorbs the blood, a process that can take up to three months.
In instances where the bleeding is severe, babies can develop jaundice while the red blood cells break down
Facial Paralysis
Pressure on the baby’s face during childbirth can damage the nerves and cause facial paralysis.
This can occur naturally or when forceps are used during delivery.
Paralysis from a bruised nerve typically heals itself within a few weeks.
In more severe cases where the facial nerve is torn, surgical intervention might be necessary.
Fractures
The clavicle and collarbone are the most common bones to fracture during childbirth.
The bones are susceptible to breaking during breech deliveries or when there are issues delivering the baby’s shoulder.
Newborns with fractured clavicles or collarbones typically heal quickly as new bone forms.
Subconjunctival Hemorrhaging
Subconjunctival hemorrhaging refers to bleeding from small blood vessels in the eye’s outer layer.
Babies with subconjunctival hemorrhaging often have a bright red band showing in the white section of one or both of their eyes.
The hemorrhaging typically does not cause eye damage and heals itself within seven to ten days.
Traumatic Birth
Traumatic birth refers to instances of labor that cause physical and psychological damage to the child or mother.
This encompasses deliveries involving complications, death, or the use of instruments in difficult labor.
Some studies have shown that up to one-third of women experience a traumatic birth of some sort.
Traumatic Birth PTSD
Mothers who endure complications during childbirth, whether from natural issues or improper medical care, can experience postnatal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by stressful events that are often re-lived through flashbacks and nightmares.
Postnasal PTSD sufferers experience various symptoms such as feelings of fear and helplessness, overwhelming memories, depression, nightmares, mood swings, and even feelings of rejection towards their child.
Can Traumatic Birth Cause a Birth Injury?
Problems during labor and delivery can lead to numerous complications for the baby.
Natural complications and delivery malpractice can damage a newborn’s nervous system and physiological structure.
A traumatic birth can result in long and short-term complications and birth injuries.
Potential labor issues include:
- False labor prior to real labor
- Premature membrane ruptures or leakage
- Drastic reduction in child’s heartbeat
- Medication-accelerated labor
- Umbilical cord around the baby’s neck
- Very long or short delivery times
- Cesarean section
- Epidural anesthetics
- Vacuum or forceps extraction
- Severe slowing or stopping of contractions
Birth Trauma and Developmental Delays
Many children experiencing developmental delays such as autism and attention deficit disorder underwent a traumatic birth.
Damage to the brain and nervous system during birth can hinder the growth of cognitive and physiological functioning.
Traumatic birth and developmental delays manifest as many forms of cerebral dysfunction.
