Childbirth is an intricate, beautiful experience in a woman's life; however, it is surrounded by complications and challenges. Depending on the circumstances, when this happens, the newborn can suffer birth injuries that can be relatively mild or severe. Injuries during birth can cause deformities or disabilities that can last a child's life. It is essential to understand how these injuries can occur and what legal action you can take if your baby suffers an injury after birth.

Understanding Birth Injury

Sometimes, during the birth process, your baby may suffer physical injuries that disrupt body functions or structures. It is also called birth injury or birth trauma, which can occur during or after childbirth. Birth injuries in newborns can range from minor to significant and life-threatening. Birth injuries are one of the three leading causes of neonatal death worldwide, accounting for 10% of all under-five deaths.

In the context of addressing potential birth injuries, many parents also consider the option of cord blood banking. Cord blood banking involves collecting and storing the blood from the umbilical cord after childbirth. This blood is rich in stem cells, which have the potential to treat various medical conditions, including certain genetic disorders and blood-related diseases.

Causes of Birth Injury

Several conditions can cause birth injuries in newborns, and it is essential to understand the maternal, infant, and external conditions associated with a higher risk of birth injuries:

  • Maternal Conditions

The mother's pelvis may have the wrong shape or size for safe delivery, difficult labor due to improper position of the fetus or abnormal dilation, and prolonged labor are some reasons responsible for birth injuries.

  • Infant Conditions

The baby weighs over 8 pounds and 13 ounces, premature delivery (before 37th week of pregnancy), and abnormal fetal position during birth are some reasons that may cause injury to the baby.

  • External Conditions

Physical injury during birth, like when the doctor uses a vacuum extraction method or forceps for the delivery.

What are the Most Common Birth Injuries?

Here are some common birth injuries that can occur at the end of the pregnancy journey:

  • Paralysis of the shoulder

It happens when the group of nerves that supply blood to the hand and arm is damaged. If a baby has trouble delivering the shoulders, this is often called shoulder dystocia. Due to this, babies lose the ability to bend and rotate their arms.

  • Bruises or forceps marks

Some babies may have bruises on their face or head due to trauma during passage through the birth canal and contact with the mother's pelvic bones and tissues. Forceps used during birth in a pregnancy journey can leave temporary cuts or bruises on your baby's face and head.

  • Caput succedaneum

Caput is a significant swelling of the soft tissues of a child's scalp. It happens when the skin is pulled as the baby moves through the birth canal or when tools are used to make labor easier. Babies born via vacuum extraction are more likely to develop this condition.

  • Cephalohematoma

It is the bleeding area between the skull and the fibrous cap. It often appears as a lump on the baby's head a few hours after birth. Over time, the body reabsorbs the blood. Depending on the size, most cephalohematomas resolve entirely within 2 weeks to 3 months.

  • Facial Paralysis

Pressure on the baby's face during labor or birth can cause damage to the facial nerve. It can also happen when forceps are used during delivery. Wounds often appear when a baby cries. If the nerve is severed, surgery may be necessary.

  • Fractures

The most common fractures during childbirth are those of the clavicle or pelvis. If there is a problem with the baby during a breech birth, the clavicle may break.

Wrapping up,

Injuries during birth can have long-term effects and affect a child's life. Stem cell banking may provide a reasonable approach to treating specific birth injuries, including brain injury. Cryoviva offers affordable cord blood stem cell preservation and storage plans at a world-class facility with state-of-the-art technology. Visit our website today and learn how stem cell banking can act as a safeguard to fight severe diseases.