Bringing a child into the world is meant to be a joyful experience. However, for some families, birth doesn’t go as expected and results in injury to the infant.
Birth injuries range from minor trauma to severe, permanent damage. The causes are equally diverse, from natural complications to mistakes made during labor and delivery.
To understand how these preventable injuries occur, it is important to be aware of the potential risks and causes. Here we will explore eight key contributors to birth-related injuries in infants. Being informed of these factors can help parents know what to look out for during pregnancy and birth.
1) Oxygen Deprivation:
A newborn’s brain and body need a constant supply of oxygen. Any interruption or deprivation of oxygen can quickly lead to serious complications. One key cause of oxygen deprivation is asphyxia, or the inability to breathe normally and take in ample oxygen. This may happen if the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the baby’s neck, compressing oxygen flow. Placental abruption, where the placenta separates from the uterine wall, can also limit oxygen.
Additional factors that may contribute to asphyxiation include umbilical cord prolapse, blood pressure issues, respiratory distress, and delayed emergency C-sections. If oxygen deprivation persists too long, it can result in brain damage, organ failure, and permanent impairments. When injuries occur due to errors in monitoring or responding to fetal distress, families may consider legal options. In severe cases like cerebral palsy caused by negligence, consultation on cerebral palsy lawsuits may be warranted.
2) Trauma During Delivery:
Forces applied in the birthing process can sometimes traumatize or injure the baby. Potential sources of trauma include improper use of delivery tools like forceps or vacuums. These devices are intended to aid delivery, but incorrect placement can bruise, cut, or fracture the skull. Excessive traction or improper positioning applied to the head can also damage nerves in the neck and spine.
Difficulty moving through the birth canal puts babies at risk too. Slow labor, abnormal positioning, and very large infants increase the chances of traumatic injury. Doctors may make errors performing episiotomies as well. Cutting the perineum requires precision to avoid injuring the baby. If the obstetrician applies too much force or makes the cut too deep, the infant’s shoulder can dislocate or the face can sustain damage.
3) Premature Delivery:
Babies born more than 3 weeks early are at heightened risk for medical problems and injuries. A premature infant has underdeveloped organs and body systems that are not ready to function outside the womb. Respiratory issues like respiratory distress syndrome arise when premature lungs lack surfactant. Underdeveloped immune function also leaves premature babies susceptible to dangerous infections.
Low birth weight and neurological complications such as intraventricular hemorrhage can occur in preemies too. Some injuries arise from the intensive care and interventions needed to stabilize extremely premature infants. However, errors in administering medications, assisting with breathing, or handling delicate tissues can also lead to injuries. Premature infants require highly attentive care to prevent errors and additional harm.
4) Prescription Drug Exposure:
Certain medications prescribed during pregnancy cross the placenta and impact the developing baby. Drug effects may include birth defects, low birth weight, withdrawal syndrome, and behavioral problems. Opioid painkillers in particular have been linked to neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), where newborns experience withdrawal after exposure to drugs in utero.
Injuries can arise when doctors inadequately warn expectant mothers of risks or prescribe medications without caution. Uncontrolled chronic conditions, inaccurate dosing, and lack of post-birth monitoring for drug effects may also contribute to infant harm. Monitoring systems to catch prescription drug dangers before birth would protect many babies from avoidable injuries.
5) Undiagnosed Birth Defects:
While birth defects themselves are not preventable, injuries can arise when defects go undiagnosed during pregnancy. Detection often allows doctors to plan specialized care during delivery to avoid trauma. However certain defects are difficult to recognize on prenatal scans and tests, leaving both medical staff and parents unaware.
For example, brain or spinal defects make a newborn more susceptible to nerve damage during labor. Undiagnosed impaired growth may lead to muscle and skeletal injuries due to small size. Without detecting high-risk conditions ahead of time, doctors cannot take all precautions to deliver these infants as safely as possible.
6) Poor Communication Between Providers:
Childbirth involves input from various providers like obstetricians, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, and nurses. Poor communication and collaboration between these care team members can contribute to newborn injuries. One doctor may lack key information uncovered by another, or specialists may fail to coordinate appropriately.
For instance, inadequate handing-off of fetal heart rate monitoring could prevent a doctor from recognizing developing distress. Or a pediatrician may not get warned of complications that require special post-delivery treatment. Breakdowns in communication during labor leave room for critical oversights and errors as the baton passes between providers.
7) Inadequate Emergency Response:
During delivery, unpredictable emergencies can suddenly threaten the baby’s well-being. A prolapsed cord or placental abruption requires quick action to prevent catastrophe. When medical teams respond poorly or lack appropriate protocols, preventable injuries can occur. Failure to recognize fetal distress signals in labor may delay emergency C-sections.
Poor coordination between units when transferring mother or baby can also lead to drops in care. Inadequate staffing and resources to handle emergencies likewise contribute to infant harm. Thorough emergency preparation and protocols are essential to avoid negligent responses when no time can be wasted.
8) Failure to Prevent Infections:
Newborns have underdeveloped immune systems, making them vulnerable to dangerous infections during and after birth. Diligent hygiene and infection control practices by medical staff can help prevent the transmission of bacteria and viruses to the infant. However, lapses in protocol may expose babies to harmful pathogens.
Errors like inadequate hand washing or instrument sterilization can spread infections quickly in the delivery room. Failure to identify maternal infections before birth also leads to transmission. Healthcare-associated infections like MRSA acquired in the nursery lead to sepsis, meningitis, and other serious complications. Even common viruses can severely impact newborns when proper isolation practices are not followed.
Preventing infections requires screening mothers, monitoring for pathogen exposure, isolating infected infants, and strictly adhering to hygiene protocols. When facilities neglect infection control, it is considered medical negligence. Resulting illnesses, brain damage, and even death could warrant investigation into malpractice lawsuits. Stopping the spread of infections protects the most vulnerable babies.
Conclusion:
Bringing life into the world should not come at the cost of injury and lasting impairment. While some birth-related complications are unavoidable, many can be prevented with proper medical care. With education, caution, and reforms, safer birthing practices can protect babies from needless injury now and in the future.
