Finding out that you are pregnant is one of the most exciting times in life. The pregnancy might go smoothly until you get to the birth. There are so many things that can go wrong during the birth of a child that it can be downright scary for both first-time parents and repeat parents. Today, we will discuss some of the most common birth injuries that can occur at hospitals across Illinois.
A fairly common birth injury is that of bruising or marks left behind on the baby’s head due to the use of forceps. Forceps are used by doctors when the baby is not moving well through the birth canal. The markings and bruises are typically temporary, but they can be quite scary when you see them for the first time on your child’s head or face.
Facial paralysis is another common birth injury. This occurs when the baby’s face absorbs pressure from the birth or from the use of forceps. Pressure can cause the facial nerves to suffer damage, which can lead to paralysis of the face.
Brachial palsy occurs most often when the doctor has difficulty delivering the baby’s shoulders through the birth canal. This is known as shoulder dystocia. It causes the nerves that work the hands and arms to become damaged. If the nerves are torn, the baby could see permanent damage. If the nerves are only bruised, then the baby should have motion in his or her arms after a couple of months.
Cephalohematoma is when there is bleeding underneath a cranial bone. This injury does not show itself until hours after the baby is born. It takes a couple of months for this injury to heal itself.
Parents shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their child as he or she is coming into the world. The sad fact of the matter is that birth injuries are all too common and can cause serious damage to the child.
Source: Stanford Children’s Health, “Birth Injury,” accessed Jan. 30, 2018
