by Sharon Chapman

Created on: December 04, 2008   Last Updated: December 16, 2008

Common Birth Injuries

Injuries during birth range from simple bruising to cerebral palsy or cortical blindness. While some injuries that occur during the birth process may be the result of medical malpractice, most are not. Birth in and of itself is a traumatic event for the human body. For nine months the baby has been growing and resting inside the mother's womb, wrapped in the warmth of amniotic fluid and fed by mother's nutrients. On birth day, the baby is propelled through a canal barely large enough to hold it and then forced through an even smaller exit into the cold world. Add to this event any number of mishaps and the baby suffers birth injuries or birth trauma.

Anoxic Encephalopathy

Anoxic encephalopathy is the medical term for brain disorders which are caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. Anoxic encephalopathy results when the umbilical cord is twisted, knotted or compressed or the birth process is extremely long or breeched. Resulting brain injuries can include cerebral palsy, mental retardation, seizures, blindness and more.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy literally translates to brain paralysis and covers a group of disorders that pertain to body movement, posture and balance. Cerebral Palsy as the result of a birth injury occurs when the baby's brain is deprived of oxygen. This can happen due to blood loss, the umbilical cord being twisted around the baby or compression of the umbilical cord. Other birth injuries to the brain due to loss of oxygen can include seizures and mental impairment.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is a medical term for lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain. This birth injury can be the cause of several brain disorders including cerebral palsy and mental retardation. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy can also lead to hearing impairments or deafness, vision impairments or blindness such as cortical blindness, lung disease and seizures. This birth injury is attributed to problems with the umbilical cord, including knots and compression or breech births. This damage occurs within minutes and cannot be reversed.

Brachial Palsy Injuries

Brachial palsy injuries are also known as Erb's Palsy or Klumpke's Pals is a birth injury that occurs when the baby has difficulty passing through the birth canal and damage is done to the group of nerves that control arm and hand movement. If the injury is minor the baby will typically recover in a few months, more severe damage to the nerves requires surgery to repair.

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