Cerebral palsy can be hard to detect. Many parents do not notice their child has cerebral palsy for months or years after their child is born. Because cerebral palsy affects muscle movements and coordination, it can be difficult to notice in infants. Too often,...
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Birth Injury
What is a hypoxic brain injury?
A brain injury is one of the most serious injuries a person can experience. One of these injuries is known as a hypoxic brain injury, or brain hypoxia. Brain hypoxia occurs when the brain does not receive enough oxygen. This can occur for several reasons. Some of the...
Who’s at risk of having a baby with cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a brain injury or brain malformation that occurs while the brain is developing - before, during or after birth. Most soon-to-be parents do not expect their baby to be born with cerebral palsy -- a paralyzing condition that can result in a lifetime of...
Can cooling a newborn reduce infant brain damage?
Giving birth to a baby who has suffered a severe brain injury is a bittersweet experience. On one hand, here is your beautiful child you've waited nine months to meet. You love him or her unconditionally. On the other hand, you're tearful and sad because you realize...
If your child has cerebral palsy, learn to be flexible
A pregnant woman looks forward to bringing home a perfect bundle of joy after her delivery. While this is what happens in most cases, it certainly isn't always the reality. A woman might learn that her baby suffered from hypoxia before or during labor and delivery....
What you need to know about neonatal whole body cooling
Neonatal whole body cooling sounds like a horrifying treatment, but it's one that can help save a child's life and protect his or her brain. The treatment is used on infants who experience hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy at birth. The goal is to slow the metabolism...
When inadequate monitoring results in infant oxygen deprivation
The labor process is dangerous to both mother and infant. Little issues, like torn tissue, can rapidly progress into major problems, like a hemorrhage. In order to reduce these issues, most births take place at a hospital, where interventions of every kind are readily...
3 ways to prevent birth injuries from affecting your child
Birth injuries are a significant problem in the United States despite the rate of maternal and birth injuries decreasing. If even one case of a child suffering an injury could be avoided, everyone involved should want to do all they can to make this happen. Still,...
Understanding Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
When you have a baby, you want him or her to be healthy. Even if the pregnancy goes well, you're probably aware that delivery can impact your child's health. Some children end up with a condition called hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Basically speaking, hypoxic...
Certain risk factors can contribute to birth-related injuries
People in Iowa who are expecting a child may wish to be aware of the chances of injury to babies caused by mechanical forces, including traction and compression. While such injuries are relatively rare, happening t only 6-8 infants for every 1,000 live births,...