The birth of a child is often a moment of joy and celebration, but for some families, it can also be a time of unexpected challenges. Newborn birthing injuries, although relatively rare, can occur during the process of labor and delivery. These injuries can range from minor, temporary conditions to severe, long-term disabilities. Understanding the causes, effects, and preventative measures of birthing injuries is crucial for parents, healthcare providers, and policymakers.
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Causes of Newborn Birthing Injuries
There isn’t just one specific thing that causes birthing injuries for newborns. Something as natural as the length of labor can affect trauma rates. Labor varies from person to person but typically, labor can last anywhere from 8 to 24 hours. Past 25 hours it is considered prolonged labor. Not only is prolonged labor extremely uncomfortable but it also can put significant amounts of stress on both the mother and the baby, increasing the risk of injuries. Babies stuck in the prolonged labor phase are at risk of a lack of oxygen, decrease in heart rate, and even shoulder dystocia which is when the baby gets stuck in the birth canal.
Just as Prolonged labor can cause shoulder dystocia, your baby’s weight also plays a large role in the risk of injuries. Babies with fetal macrosomia are larger than average with a weight of over 9 pounds. Infants this large are more susceptible to birthing injuries from being stuck in the birth canal and the use of forceps or vacuum devices to assist with removal.
Babies who are premature are just as much at risk as babies weighing above average. Typically falling underneath the average 7.5 pounds, babies born before 37 weeks of gestation are more fragile and in danger of injuries due to their underdeveloped bodies.
A baby’s weight isn’t the only thing that increases the risk of injury. When babies decide to get comfortable in the womb in abnormal fetal positions, such as breech, this can cause complications during the delivery. Whether trying to turn the baby head-first, receiving a c-section, or proceeding with a vaginal breech birth, the chance of injury is high.
A baby’s weight and fetal position can make delivery tricky and so can the tools used to help in those situations. Under emergency circumstances when pushing isn’t working, the use of forceps or vacuum extraction can be necessary. While these are helpful delivery tools, they can sometimes cause trauma to the body of a fragile infant.
While going over all of these factors that contribute to infant injury during birth, maternal health conditions can’t be left out. Conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or preeclampsia in the mother can contribute to birthing complications, increasing the risk of newborn birthing injuries.
Types of Injuries
Newborn birthing injuries can occur in various forms. A common type of injury is caput succedaneum, a minor head injury that causes swelling of the soft tissues of the baby’s scalp, usually due to prolonged pressure from the cervix or vaginal walls. This injury typically corrects itself within a few days. Similar to caput succedaneum, injury to a baby’s head during birth can also cause cephalohematoma, a collection of blood between a newborn’s scalp and skull bone. A more severe level of head trauma can cause intracranial hemorrhage, bleeding inside the skull.
Aside from head trauma, we also handle a baby with care to avoid fractures, which happen to 1 child out of every 1,000 births. The nerves of a newborn are just as delicate. Brachial plexus injury is damage to the network of nerves that send signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. This injury can result in temporary or permanent arm weakness or paralysis. Another injury that can result in temporary or permanent paralysis is facial nerve injury, which occurs if there is pressure on the baby’s face during labor or delivery.
Effects of Newborn Birthing Injuries
Many injuries, such as minor fractures or cephalohematoma, may heal on their own without long-term consequences. More severe injuries, such as brachial plexus injuries or intracranial hemorrhages, can lead to long-term disabilities, developmental delays, or chronic health issues. Families may experience significant emotional distress and anxiety, and the long-term care of an injured child can place a substantial financial and emotional burden on parents.
Prevention and Management
Preventing newborn birthing injuries involves a combination of careful prenatal care, skilled medical intervention, and effective communication between healthcare providers and parents. Regular prenatal visits can help identify and manage potential risk factors, such as maternal health conditions or abnormal fetal positions. To go a step further, during visits, parents should also be educated about the signs of potential complications and the importance of seeking timely medical help.
Expecting parents need healthcare providers who are trained in the latest and safest delivery techniques, including the judicious use of instruments like forceps and vacuum extractors. All hospitals and birthing centers should be equipped to handle emergencies promptly, ensuring that both mother and baby receive immediate and appropriate care.
While newborn birthing injuries can be a source of great concern, understanding their causes, effects, and preventive measures can help mitigate risks and improve outcomes, ensuring a healthier start for newborns and peace of mind for their families.