Types of Injuries
Why is my baby this way? How did it happen? What is the future going to look like? These are questions you no doubt have and need answers to.
Not all birth injuries are preventable, but some are. Some potentially damaging scenarios can be identified before injury is caused and thereby prevented or the damage reduced. How your child reacts, adjusts and recovers is also variable. We have provided you with some resources you can consult to start learning about your child’s injury, it’s cause and what to expect in the future.
Brachial Plexus Injury
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that send signals from the spine to the arms, shoulder and hands. If these nerves are stretched, compressed or ripped from the spinal cor...
Bruising
It’s not uncommon for babies to show bruising after birth. Coming through the birth canal can be a bit of squeeze through the pelvic bone....
Caput Succedaneum
Caput succedaneum is when there is swelling underneath the skin of your baby’s scalp shortly after delivery. It usually happens when there is pressure on the baby’s head during...
Cephalohematoma
Cephalohematoma happens when blood collects in the lining around the skull. However, the blood cannot move across the midline of the skull, so it collects and creates a bulge on ei...
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is caused by damage to the brain, usually before, during or after birth. This damage leads to partial or complete muscle paralysis. The effects vary widely between t...
Cortical Blindness
Cortical blindness happens when the part of the brain that processes visual information is damaged. While those that have cortical blindness are not technically "blind," the way ea...
Deformities
A birth defect or deformity usually happens during the first three months of pregnancy, and can be from a number of causes. They can range from minor where no intervention is neede...
Developmental Delays
A developmental delay is when your baby or child doesn’t reach their developmental milestones at the expected time. They could have problems with language, speech, vision, motion...
Erb’s Palsy
Erb's palsy is when the nerves in the neck are damaged, which provides movement in the shoulder and arm. If those nerves are damaged, it causes weakness in the arm and loss of moti...
Extreme Sleepiness
Extreme sleepiness or fatigue is pretty much just as it sounds. If your baby is always tired both physically and mentally, they may have fatigue. This can be a sign of larger probl...
Facial Paralysis
Facial paralysis causes the face to be weak, paralyzed or have involuntary movement. It can be difficult to close the mouth or eyes, and the face will look drooped on the affected ...
Folic Acid Disorder
Folic acid is an important part in the development of your baby as it helps grow and protect the cells in your body. Without enough folic acid, your baby is at risk for some very s...
Fractures
The most common fracture or break that can happen during birth is your baby breaking its clavicle. Usually doctors will care for the injury just like any other broken bone. However...
Infant Brain Injury
An infant brain injury can create a number of symptoms, and come from a variety of causes -- even from birth. But as they're a newborn, they can't exactly describe their symptoms, ...
Meconium Aspiration
Meconium aspiration is when your baby breathes in amniotic fluid that contains your baby's first stool (called meconium). That stool can block small airways and prevent your baby's...
Paralysis
Paralysis is the loss of the ability to move or loss of feeling in one or more muscles. It usually happens because of damage to the nerves in the muscle, or damage to the spinal co...
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
Persistent pulmonary hypertension happens when your baby doesn't have normal blood circulation during and after birth. Whereas your baby was breathing through the placenta during b...
Poor Muscle Control
If your baby is either unable to move certain muscles, or has random, exaggerated movements, he or she may have poor muscle control. They may also have difficulty breathing, and no...
Retinopathy
Retinopathy is a complication that affects the eyes when a baby is born too early. The vessels in your baby’s eyes may not have developed yet, or grown abnormally, and cause blee...
Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia happens when your baby's shoulder gets caught behind your pelvic bone during birth. Your doctor or midwife should act fast to make sure your baby gets enough oxyg...
Untreated Jaundice
While jaundice is a common occurrence in newborn babies, there are instances of severe cases. If your baby's liver hasn't fully developed to break down red blood cells and release ...