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Are Are you worried about the delivery, as you just heard from your friend of birth injuries that affect a child for life? Or someone has to tell his experience of how the child was not in the right position and had to be pulled out, leading to bruises and scratches? Are you thinking of ways to get your child in an ideal position so that delivery would be safe?
If you are thinking on the same lines as just discussed, we are here to help. This post brings you this birth trauma is all about, how it could happen, what are its effects and how to recover from it. You are ready? Then read on.
What it is birth Trauma?
During the birth process, the mechanical forces such as compression, traction could cause injury in newborns, and is known as the birth trauma. Usually in the course of delivery, damage of tissues or organs could happen to children because of physical pressure resulting in the birth trauma. [1] [2]
What are the causes of the birth trauma?
birth trauma could be physical as a cut, bruise, fracture or even a chronic condition. Most countries in developing such as Africa and Asia is having more cases of birth trauma. However, even in the United States 2% of births are suffering from the trauma of the birth, but especially physics. [3]
The main reason of injuries is the weight of the child. Many of the children that are larger than the average child in terms of weight or child size is compared to the pelvis of the mother, suffering from birth trauma. The reason is that most physicians will serve tools for enforcing a delivery, or apply force to get the child. And sometimes, doctors are more cautious and may not apply hard force; It may cause birth trauma. Here are some of the common conditions that could lead to injury at birth in infants:
- The children whose birth weight is more than 4000 grams
- extended work ..
- dystocia - difficult or delivery travail ..
- baby births before 37 [di1945028] week of pregnancy
- the mother's pelvis may not be in top shape to provide a child normally or safely.
- The child is not in an ideal position for birth (ideal position is upside down)
[Read: stages of childbirth ].
What are the different types of birth Trauma?
As for statistics, most of the injuries are caused to the head, neck or shoulders as the child is delivered with the head first. But injuries to other parts of the body are also a part of the trauma of birth. The most common injuries are [3].
1. Caput succedaneum:
in this condition children, scalps may swell or may get bruises. This condition arises due to the following reasons:
- During delivery when pressure is applied to the scalp of the baby from the vaginal wall and the mother of uterus.
- If the mother has undergone a long and difficult labor, which could cause some bruising on the baby's scalp.
- When the gusts of water bag and the baby's head is vulnerable as it passes through the birth canal.
- If doctors use suction devices.
2. Cephalohematoma:
This is a condition where you can see the blood get accumulated under the periosteum of the child (it's a shielding membrane, protecting the baby's skull) . After several hours of delivery, this is evident on the child's skull.
In most cases, is not harmful because it wears off after a few weeks or months. The blood that was on the skull is absorbed by the body from the bottom, making the lump disappear. However, in some cases it may cause jaundice if the lumps are too large and not easily broken.
3. Bruises and broken bones:
Bruising may occur on the face, neck, head and / or other parts of the body due to the following reasons:
- physical tension during passage through the birth canal.
- come into contact with tissue and bone when in the pelvic area.
- using tools childbirth may leave a mark and could even break a bone.
- The suction use can cause bruising to the scalp.
bruises can occur on a child's face, head, and other parts of the body due to the physical demands of the passage through the birth canal. And also because of the contact with the bones and tissues in the mother's pelvis. The use of birthing tools such as forceps during childbirth can also leave scars on the head or a baby face, especially when doctors are using too much energy. In addition, the vacuum extraction may cause a wound or a bruise on the scalp of a child.
4. subconjunctival hemorrhage:
You might have observed a red band around the iris in the eye infants. This condition is known as subconjunctival hemorrhage. When some of the small blood vessels to break into the eyes of a child, it will form this red band around the iris. It is no permanent damage to the eye, and in a few weeks or months you can see vanish, as the body reabsorbs the blood.
5. Bell's palsy:
This is a condition in which facial nerves infants get hurt while at work or during childbirth. It could be due to the following reasons:
- pressure on the baby's face while he is going through the birth canal
- The use of birth. instruments.
Symptoms:
- When babies cry, they are unable to move the muscle where the nerves are divided
- The eye of the impacted side remains open
Recovery: ..
- If it's just a bruise, will be healed by itself.
- Nerve tear is a bit 'serious, and only surgery could restore it.
[Read: birth defects ]
6. Brachial plexus injuries:
A brachial plexus is a network of nerves that connects the spinal cord to the arms and hands of the child. And an injury to this area is called as brachial plexus injuries. These could be due to the following reasons:
complicated delivery. Why, for example, the baby's shoulder gets stuck in the birth canal, and the doctor has to apply force to get it out
symptoms:
- The child may not be able to move or rotate the impacted arm
Recovery :.
- if it's just a bruise, get healed by itself within a few weeks or months.
- If there is a total nerve damage, which may cause permanent loss.
7. Deprivation of oxygen:
This condition is when the child is not always enough oxygen during childbirth, prenatal and postpartum (in some cases) .It could be due to the following reasons:
- separation of the placenta from the baby.
- The umbilical cord is tied around the baby's neck.
- After. delivery if the baby does not start breathing independently that could also cause oxygen deprivation in a child
Side effects:
- This could damage the cerebellum of the child, which is responsible for the functioning of the body.
- could lead to cerebral palsy, in which the child is unable to control its movement, muscle tone or posture.
- You could also lead to hearing problems Hearing problems and partial or total blindness.
- If the baby is not breathing for three minutes after birth, could result in destroying brain cells and causing seizures or coma.
8. Fractures:
And 'the common injury related to birth trauma. This condition mainly arises due to the following reasons:
- Positioning of the child (or breech i.e.head positions).
Symptoms:
- The The child may not be able to move the impact area
Recovery :.
- A soft bandage could be used to prevent sudden a push of the body up to the fracture healing.
although, birth trauma, as the name suggests, seems to be a terrifying experience, but most of all lesions heal on their own . However, the recovery also depends on an individual and the severity of the condition. and 'recommended doctors to predict the medical risks and take proactive measures to prevent birth trauma in children.
you have any experience to share with us with regard to birth trauma? Let us know in the comments. section
items not to be missed:
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- Baby Coronation? - All you need to know
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