You’ve often heard the standard line from some mothers who declare that going through childbirth is such a wonderful experience. We don’t doubt that for some, but it’s really not the case for every mother and every child born in a hospital delivery room, birth center or even home.
There are plenty of risks in childbirth, and it can turn painful, dangerous and life-threatening for both the mother and child. The causes may be from a difficult and prolonged labor and delivery to abnormal fetal position such as a breech baby. But there are many.
Mothers may experience an assortment of injuries or conditions that include excessive bleeding, severe tears, pelvic fractures and urinary incontinence. The infant, of course, also may be subjected to an assortment of trauma as well.
Common birth injuries among infants
Here’s a list of some of the more common birth injuries that may happen to an infant:
- Brain injuries may occur due to oxygen deprivation leading to cerebral palsy or chronic seizures.
- Scalp lacerations and swelling of the soft tissue of infant’s scalp may occur due to improper usage of a vacuum extraction tool when removing the infant from the birth canal.
- Brachial palsy injuries such as Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy happen when the nerves responsible for moving the arms and hands are injured.
- Facial paralysis may occur due to improper use of a forceps or vacuum extraction tool in removing the infant. This may lead to Bell’s palsy.
- Broken bones may occur, and collar bone fractures are among the more common. This may happen if the physician pulls too hard on the infant while in the breech position.
- Bleeding may occur when the blood vessels in the infant’s eyes break. Known as subconjunctival hemorrhages, this injury doesn’t cause permanent eye damage.
An ideal childbirth is a smooth one without complications, but every childbirth is different. Let’s hope for safe ones.
