by Linda Alter

Created on: December 06, 2008   Last Updated: December 16, 2008

Childbirth is the happiest moment in a woman's life, in most cases. The first cry of the baby, after it leaves the mother's womb is a miraculous sound. However, things happen quite often to make this event a tragedy for some new mothers and their children. Due to the incompetence of doctors and nurses, accidents often happen, and a birth injury occurs. About 7 out of 1,000 babies suffer an injury during the birth process that will impact on the them for the rest of their lives.

Some of the injuries during birth can cause Cerebral Palsy, shoulder displacement, arm fractures, Erb's Palsy, spinal cord injuries, and more. Brain damage is a very common birth injury.

A baby's body is so vulnerable at birth, and lack of oxygen, or other complications can quickly lead to a life threatening condition for both the mother and the child. A slip of a forcep, a cord wrapped around the baby's neck or just simply prolonged labor can often cause irreparable damage. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, most commonly referred to as "brain damage" in lay people, occurs when there is a deprivation of oxygen supply to the brain tissue. Total deprivation of oxygen to the brain is called cerebral anoxia and can lead to death or at the very least, permanent brain damage.

Facial palsy can be one common injury. Also called Bell's Palsy, this condition is a paralysis of one side of the face. Erb's Palsy, another type of paralysis, is a paralysis of shoulder, arm, or hand caused by damage to the brachial plexus during delivery. These nerves are located in the neck, and can be damaged during a difficult delivery, often when the baby's head is too big for the birth canal. Often, Erb's Palsy is a temporary condition, although if serious enough, can lead to permanent paralysis.

Shoulder displacement and shoulder fractures are a very common occurrence. This happens when the baby's shoulders are too big to exit the birth canal, and the child is essentially "stuck", half way out of the mother's body. Often, when trying to maneuver the child's body to get him or her out, they have to break the shoulder or the shoulder is accidentally displaced. A use of a vacuum extractor or forceps during delivery heightens the chances that a child will be born with shoulder displacements.

Umbilical cord complications often happen during the birthing process. A problem with the umbilical cord can lead to the death of the baby or fetal distress. If the cord is wrapped around the baby's neck, it cuts off the oxygen supply

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>