Blog: Birth Injury
- Does Prematurity at Birth Cause Developmental Delays?
Sep 30, 2018
Prematurity has been linked to a host of long-term complications, many of which result from trauma at birth. For children born premature, the immediate effects of a birth injury may precede developmental problems that arise years down the road. As evidence of this phenomenon, a recent study published in the journal eNeuro, discovered a connection between premature birth and developmental delays. The study’s findings indicate that delays in the development of the auditory cortex, which plays a...Read More - The Connection Between Gestational Diabetes & Birth Injuries
Sep 7, 2018
Being pregnant affects women in different ways. Some expectant mothers feel perfectly well, while others experience fatigue, morning sickness, back pain and other difficult symptoms. Although there are some common symptoms that come with pregnancy, others signal a serious condition like gestational diabetes that must be diagnosed and managed appropriately. Gestational diabetes doesn’t simply affect the mother. In fact, it increases the risk of birth injuries for the baby as well. Continue reading to learn...Read More - Why Fetal Monitoring is Essential to Prevent Birth Injury
Jul 5, 2018
Monitoring your baby’s heart rate is one of the most critical things that doctors and nurses must do during the labor and delivery process. In fact, failure to properly monitor fetal heart rate can result in severe birth injuries or even death of the child. This article provides a better understanding of the purpose of fetal heart rate monitoring, what can happen when negligence during birth occurs, and the legal options available to victims of...Read More - Can Cerebral Palsy be Prevented at Birth?
Jun 25, 2018
Is cerebral palsy preventable? It is one of the most common questions parents and caregivers ask after their child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Unfortunately, there is no absolutely effective way to prevent cerebral palsy. However, there are steps your doctor can take before and during birth to prevent injuries and complications that place your child at increased risk for developing cerebral palsy. Find out more about cerebral palsy risk factors and methods for preventing...Read More - Apgar Score for Birth Injury Diagnosis
Jun 8, 2018
The Apgar score is an important tool used to evaluate the physical condition of an infant after birth. Often, an abnormal Apgar score indicates an underlying condition that may be temporary or permanent. When a newborn has suffered a birth injury, an abnormal Apgar score may be the first sign that something is wrong. As a parent, it is important to understand your baby’s Apgar score and why medical professionals must respond appropriately to Apgar score abnormalities...Read More - How Maternal Age Affects Premature Birth
May 28, 2018
In recent years, more and more women are giving birth at later stages of life. The medical community has also recognized an increase in premature (or preterm) birth on an international scale. The question posed by a group of researchers recently was: what is the relationship between advanced maternal age and prematurity? The following is a deep-dive into what one study found about the potential association between preterm labor and mothers at advanced maternal age...Read More - Why the Size of Your Baby’s Head Matters for Cerebral Palsy Risk
Apr 13, 2018
The size of your baby’s head, also known as head circumference, may be an important factor in predicting brain damage and cerebral palsy, new research says. In order to understand the significance of these findings, we must first provide some background. Previous medical research has established the link between white matter damage (WMD) and cerebral palsy. In other words, if a newborn has suffered some damage to the white matter in their brain during or after...Read More - Babies with Very Low Birth Weights More Likely to Suffer Serious Injuries and Death During Overnight Birth
Dec 7, 2017
A research study published in the Journal of Pediatrics sought to evaluate the relationship between childbirth during overnight hours and serious birth injuries or neonatal death in infants born with very low birth weights. The results were significant, showing that babies with very low birth weight are at increased risk for severe intraventricular hemorrhage, death, and several other serious injuries when born between midnight and 7:00 a.m. The study investigated 47,617 infants born in California...Read More