During the delivery process, an infant's brain may not receive enough oxygen. This condition is known as hypoxia. If a baby does not receive treatment, he or she may develop a brain injury. Several elements of the birthing process may cause an infant to develop...
Birth Injuries
Is delayed cord clamping dangerous?
Usually, after the birth of a baby, the doctor quickly clamps the umbilical cord. However, there is also the option of waiting a little while to clamp the cord. This option of delayed cord clamping, according to the American Pregnancy Association, can help increase...
What are the dangers of vacuum-assisted birth?
A vacuum-assisted birth uses a special tool that helps to pull the baby from the womb. The Mayo Clinic explains the decision to use the vacuum often occurs when you are in active labor and there is an issue with the baby making it through the birth canal. Often, the...
What is episiotomy?
An episiotomy is a surgical procedure that involves incising the skin of the perineum. This is the tissue of your pelvic region that occurs between the anus and the vagina. Doctors sometimes perform the surgery to assist with a difficult childbirth. However, as the...
What causes persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns?
The birth of your child should be an exciting time, but if he or she suffers a birth injury, it can make this a scary time. Luckily, most birth situations end without any complications or issues. However, it can help to learn more about potential issues that your baby...
Signs of a possible birth injury
When a birth injury impacts a child's well-being, the effects of the injury are not always immediately apparent. After parents bring the infant home, they may notice troubling signs that could indicate medical concerns. Seek help from your child's pediatrician if you...
Erb’s palsy: causes, risk factors and treatment
As an expectant Washington mother, you may have heard that you should “expect the unexpected” when raising children, but when it comes to your delivery, itself, you are probably hoping for a smooth, predictable process. Unfortunately, though, some deliveries are far...
What kind of long-term treatment is necessary for cerebral palsy?
Suffering through the trauma of a birth injury can be a challenge for both the baby and parents. Families expect to welcome healthy babies into their world, but the negligence of medical professionals can put both a child's and mother's life at risk during labor. And...
More than half of maternal deaths preventable
Women who are pregnant or who have given birth in the last year in Washington State should be able to focus on the joys associated with bringing a new life into the world. Unfortunately, that is not always the case as the rate of maternal deaths is on the rise. Data...
What are the common risk factors of a birth injury?
During pregnancy, every parent hopes for a strong and healthy baby. None of them expect their child to suffer a birth injury. And birth injuries are actually quite rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that only one in 33 babies suffer a...