Being a parent for the first time is a beautiful phenomenon, and the idea of bringing a child into this world is the dream of every mother. From the first day of pregnancy, mothers imagine carrying their healthy baby in their arms while their hands lightly stroke their fingers. Even after the birth of their little one, both parents strive very hard to give their newborn a happy and healthy life. Sometimes, however, unforeseen circumstances can occur, during or after birth, which can give rise to birth injuries in the child, and they are physical, intellectual, or developmental.
Complete or partial damage to the afflicted region of the body or brain causes birth injuries. It gets difficult for parents as a child with birth injuries is very hard and demanding. It may require special care and treatments, and they might be behind other kids of their age. These situations may cause some parents to become stressed, lose hope and be depressed. But do not worry; opportunities, interventions, preventions, and treatments are always there to help children with birth injuries live a happy and healthy life!
If you are expecting or a new parent who is worried about birth injuries and is looking for answers, here are the most common ones that you can look into:
- Birth injury due to negligence:
Birth injury mostly occurs due to the carelessness of a physician, midwife, surgeon, or incorrect medication. Suppose you are the victim of such malpractice. In that case, you can seek legal assistance because various law firms have been established specifically for this reason. For example, you can approach Birth Injury Justice Center with highly experienced legal workers that will work as a team in this matter. They will not only help you file a lawsuit against the incompetent healthcare worker. But will also help you file a case to cover any costs for the treatment, medications, or management of the birth injury of your precious child.
- Cerebral palsy:
Cerebral palsy is a brain injury that occurs during labor or childbirth. It causes the oxygen levels to drop lower than normal levels. It does not reach the baby’s brain on time. Other complications include severe physical injury to the baby’s head during the delivery process, the umbilical cord getting stuck in the baby’s neck, or the placenta separating early during delivery. These complications result in partial or complete death of brain cells and physical and mental impairments. To fight the risks of cerebral palsy during pregnancy, pregnant women should eat healthily, get vaccinated for diseases like rubella or hepatitis B, and take good care of themselves. The treatment for cerebral palsy patients is proper physical and mental exercises, speech and language practices, and recreational therapy like music.
- Erb’s Palsy:
Erb’s palsy is a birth injury that causes weakness in the nerves of the neck, arms, and shoulder of the baby. It happens due to a trauma to the neck of the baby during delivery. The baby’s arms and shoulder nerves get damaged due to this trauma. Healing occurs through proper and regular physical therapy, but the affected arm may stay shorter than the other arm. Prevention of this disease is easy and requires doctors with skill training during delivery and application of modern techniques and no consumption of alcohol, smoking, and any illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine, or heroin during pregnancy.
- Down Syndrome:
The process of cell division is very crucial for the normal functioning of the body. It is a process that ensures the correct amount of genetic material stays inside the cell. If this process is disturbed, a birth injury may occur. In Down Syndrome, this process of cell division is disturbed as chromosome 21 fails to separate and results in specific birth injuries like muscle weakness, mental disability, and delay in overall development.
To prevent Down Syndrome, both parents should get genetic testing. Expecting mothers should get an ultrasound, fetal MRI, villus screening, and amniocentesis performed by the doctor to detect any chromosomal abnormalities. Avoid planning a kid after 35 years of age to avoid Down Syndrome pregnancies. After birth, physical, occupational, and cognitive therapies can help children with Down Syndrome live a beautiful life.
- Spina Bifida:
Spina bifida is a birth injury that happens due to the incomplete formation of the spinal cord resulting in a baby being born with physical and mental disabilities. It is more common in female babies than male babies, and each year 1,427 babies are born with spina bifida or 1 in every 2,758 births. Spina Bifida can occur due to deficiency of folic acid intake by expecting mothers. Hence, the regular intake of 400 mg of folic acid, maintaining any fever by taking paracetamol, and treating medical conditions like obesity and diabetes during pregnancy can help prevent this disease. Spina Bifida can be treated based on the progression and severity of the disease. There are three types of Spina Bifida, and they differ from each other in their symptoms and the portion of the spinal cord that is incomplete or not formed.
Conclusion:
Birth injuries may occur due to genetics, negligence of healthcare professionals, or vitamin deficiency, and preventive methods include screening, a good intake of food, and prenatal vitamins. In addition to that, the treatment options for children with birth injuries are home-care like physical, mental, or cognitive therapies or hospital care. These treatments will ensure the health of the baby and mother by making a safer and healthier community!
