Category Archives: Birth Trauma
Chilled Blankets Decrease Rates of Cerebral Palsy, Study Says
A federally funded study found that using chilled blankets immediately after birth reduces the risk of cerebral palsy and infant death. The study charted survival rates of children born with birth trauma, mainly lack of oxygen during birth (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a.k.a HIE). Doctors studied 208 births in various hospitals across the country. Doctors identified children with HIE within six hours of their birth and administered either traditional treatments or a cooling blanket. Cold water circulates through the blanket, cooling the newborn’s temperature. Researchers found that newborns in the traditional treatment group had a mortality rate of 44 percent, while newborns given the chilled blanket treatment (called hypothermia) had a mortality rate of 28 percent. They were also less likely to develop conditions usually associated with traumatic birth, such as cerebral palsy, limited motor function, vision problems and epilepsy. The hypothermia treatment is standard practice at many hospitals. The study expands…
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Posted in Birth Trauma, Cerebral Palsy Tagged birth trauma, birth trauma lawyer, cerebral palsy, cerebral palsy attorney, chilled blanket, hie, infant death, traumatic birth Comments Off on Chilled Blankets Decrease Rates of Cerebral Palsy, Study Says
Medical Device Delays Birth, Could Prevent Birth Traumas
A recently published study indicates that medical devices called pessaries could prevent premature birth, which puts babies at a higher risk of developing conditions like cerebral palsy. Doctors studied 385 pregnant women with short cervixes at five Spanish hospitals. Statistically, women with short cervixes are more likely to go into early labor. Nearly half (192) of the women were treated with the cervical pessary. Overall, fewer women in the pessary group went into premature labor than did women in the non-pessary group (12 in the former, 52 in the latter). Percentagewise, six percent of the pessary group went into early labor, compared to 26 percent of the non-pessary group. The babies born in the non-pessary group had higher rates of low birth weight and respiratory distress syndrome. Some women in the pessary group indicated that the device was painful. On average, the insertion of the device was a four and…
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Posted in Birth Trauma Tagged Birth Defects, birth trama lawyers, cerebral palsy, cervical pessary, early labor, pessaries, pessary, premature birth Comments Off on Medical Device Delays Birth, Could Prevent Birth Traumas
New Documentary on PBS: How to Avoid Birth Injuries
The United Brachial Plexus Network (BPI) has released a documentary that warns of the potential birth risks that could lead to brachial plexus injuries. Newborn Birth Injuries: The Untold Story is now airing as a filler piece on PBS stations, with clips available on YouTube and the organization’s website. In the film, medical professionals explain how brachial plexus injuries occur and how to avoid them. The brachial plexus is a vital system of nerves located near the back of the neck and upper spine. The nerves deliver signals to upper arm and chest muscles. Damage in this region during childbirth can cause serious birth defects, including nerve damage, paralysis, lack of muscle control or sensation, or Erb’s palsy. According to the documentary, doctors and nurses cause brachial plexus injuries by pulling and twisting on the baby’s head as it exits the womb. The baby can appear “stuck,” so the doctor…
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Posted in Birth Trauma, Erbs Palsy Tagged Birth Defects, birth trauma attorney, brachial plexus, brachial plexus injury, Erbs Palsy Comments Off on New Documentary on PBS: How to Avoid Birth Injuries
