Injuries Can Happen During the Birthing Process

Injuries Can Happen During the Birthing Process

There are many ways that someone can suffer a personal injury and, sometimes, these injuries happen while the patient is in the process of being born. Unfortunately, birth injuries are not uncommon and can range widely in severity from temporary to lifelong. A group of medical doctors recently published a literature review and research paper detailing some of the critical aspects regarding birth injuries.

Examples of Injuries that Occur During the Birthing Process

When the infant is being born, he or she is descending down the vaginal canal and through the pelvis before exiting into the outside world. During this time, the contractions of the uterus are squeezing the baby and forcing the head and body through the pelvis. These contractions are vital because they press the amniotic fluid out of the baby's lungs, allowing the child to breathe. However, traumatic injuries can also happen during this birthing process. Examples of possible injuries include:

• Scalp Lacerations: Scalp lacerations are not in any way uncommon and can undoubtedly occur during the birthing process. Sometimes, when the baby is slightly larger, they can get stuck in the canal. When this happens, the clinician may use forceps to grab the baby and twist the child into a more favorable position for exit from the canal. In this manner, lacerations of the scalp can occur.
• Cephalohematoma: This is a bruise that occurs on the head of the baby that can range widely in its size and severity. This injury occurs when the baby gets stuck in the canal, and the physician decides to use a vacuum to assist with the birthing process. When this vacuum is applied to the scalp and turned on, a bruise can result on the baby's head.
• Erb's and Klumpke's Palsy: These are nerve palsies that can result from brachial plexus injuries. This happens from jerking or sustained pressure on the arm of the baby that can lead to a tear of certain portions of the brachial plexus, an important group of nerves that is required for proper function of the arm.
• Shoulder Dystocia: A shoulder dystocia occurs when the baby's shoulder gets stuck up against the pelvis of the mother. When this happens, a bone fracture of the clavicle can result as the physician tries to force the baby through the canal. In some situations, the baby needs to be pushed back up into the uterus for an emergent c-section.

Watch YouTube Video: Shoulder Dystocia. This short animated video shows how a shoulder dystocia injury can occur during the birthing process.

The Outcome of Infants and Mothers with Injuries

The paper also discussed what the outcome of these various injuries looks like down the road. These injuries range in their severity, and all have different results.

• Scalp Lacerations: Scalp lacerations are typically minor and heal on their own in time. Few of them require stitches and even those that do usually do not need very many. The physician will take a look at the size and depth of the lacerations when the child is born. If the cuts are deep, stitches could be necessary. These can either dissolve on their own with time or be removed down the line.
• Cephalohematoma: Most cephalohematomas are relatively minor as well and will dissolve on their own with time. A cephalohematoma can be severe if the child has a hemorrhage in the ventricles of his or her brain. This is bleeding in the brain that can lead to neurological dysfunction. This will be diagnosed on ultrasound and requires follow-up to monitor the child's neurological development. A large number of hemorrhages are minor and will disappear entirely on the follow-up ultrasound.
• Brachial Plexus Injury: If the baby has a brachial plexus injury, this could be permanent and lead to complete disuse of one or more of the functions of the arm. This happens when the bundle of nerves is torn during the birthing process. If the nerves are split, the child could lose the ability to raise, lower and rotate the arm, bend the elbow, or use the fingers.

What Must Be Done in the Future

The paper discusses that while these injuries rarely result in chronic complications, those that have been injured require a much closer follow-up with a doctor. Sometimes, the real consequences of these injuries are not noticed until the child starts lagging behind his or her peers in development. In this situation, contacting a professional legal advocate can help. A lawyer can thoroughly investigate what happened during birth and figure out what should be in the future to ensure that the child has the best care possible.

Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels
:dr cha [cs 873]