Becoming a parent is a rewarding experience. It is a dream many individuals aspire to be in their lives. Finding out you are expecting a child can be a joyous moment for many. Some choose to learn more about the stages of pregnancy and what they should expect when going through each trimester.
It does not always go as hoped when it comes to the birth. There are times when the birth of a child can raise numerous risks and end with common birth injuries. New parents must be aware of the variety of health concerns surrounding the birth of their first child. These are a few of the most common birth injuries and risk factors involved with carrying and having a child.
Table of Contents
Cerebral Palsy
Birth injuries can range in severity. Some are minor and can be resolved quickly. However, some are more severe injuries, a few of which can be life-threatening. Cerebral Palsy, for example, is one of the most common birth injuries. It is caused by brain damage from labour, delivery, or pregnancy.
There are occasions when medical experts will fail to spot the signs of distress in the child, and the baby’s brain can be deprived of receiving oxygen. Unfortunately, a loss of oxygen to the baby’s brain can lead to them experiencing brain damage and Cerebral Palsy. Those with Cerebral Palsy often have difficulty speaking and communicating, motor impairments and cognitive problems.
If your child has Cerebral Palsy and you believe it was down to negligence from the medical team, look into making a Cerebral Palsy claim. When looking into if making a Cerebral Palsy claim is possible, consider seeking expert guidance to help answer your queries. Utilise resources and ask for help and support from specialists in medical negligence. These solicitors could provide you with advice on Cerebral Palsy claims, and if you have a case to put forward for medical negligence about how you believe it led to Cerebral Palsy in your child, they could help.
Erbs Palsy
Erbs Palsy is a form of paralysis or weakness in the muscles of the arms. For many, this will happen to one of the arms following a stretched or severed nerve in the neck. It is most commonly heard of during childbirth.
It is similar to Cerebral Palsy in some ways. For example, it can be caused by an injury during pregnancy. The position of the baby in the womb could be a cause. When the baby’s head is positioned in the birth canal but has broader shoulders, they could become restricted by their mother’s pelvic bone. Closer to the time of their birth, when the baby’s head becomes lower, it will begin to push into the birth canal. This will then cause the nerves between the shoulders and neck to stretch. It could lead to the baby being born with Erbs Palsy, caused by shoulder dystocia.
Shoulder Dystocia
A typical birth risk some might experience is shoulder dystocia. When the baby’s head has been born, the shoulders might have become stuck behind their mother’s public bone. When this occurs, it delays the birth of the baby’s body, and additional help is needed. The additional support for the baby’s delivery will help release the baby’s shoulder. Fortunately, in most cases of shoulder dystocia, the baby is born safely and promptly and gathered up into their parents’ arms.
One of the main concerns with shoulder dystocia is that doctors or any medical expert cannot prevent it from happening. This is because it is something that they cannot predict will occur. Those with diabetes or who developed diabetes during pregnancy are often offered the option to be induced early. They might also be offered the option of a planned caesarean section. These choices can help with reducing the risk of shoulder dystocia when the child is born.
In Summary
Childbirth can be an exciting, albeit frightening, experience for many parents, especially if it is their first child. Although no two labours will look the same, having an idea about what to expect in normal birth, as well as potential complications, could be beneficial.
With 613,936 live births recorded in one year, many of these will have experienced complications in some forms. Some will likely have been more traumatic than others. In some instances, the complications that arise are through no fault of any parties involved, and it is just a natural issue that can occur.
Ideally, no parent will want to have to go through the process of making a negligence claim or a Cerebral Palsy claim. They might not be common. However, these issues can still unfortunately occur. Being aware of these factors, amongst others, can be helpful if you are an expecting parent.