Understanding Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

Each year, 30,000 newborn babies face health complications during the birthing process. One of the most severe conditions that can occur during childbirth is Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). This is a condition that affects a baby's brain due to lack of oxygen. This condition requires immediate…

The Five Most Common Birth Injuries

Serious birth injuries, like the ones outlined below, are much more common in the United States than in other developed countries. In fact, many pediatricians now recommend that mothers under 35 with no pregnancy complications and no history of pregnancy complications, give birth at home.…

Delayed C-Sections Can Lead to Birth Injuries

Cesarean deliveries (C-sections) are a common procedure for women in labor. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 33% of all deliveries in the United States are performed via C-section. There are many good reasons why a doctor might feel a…

Seizures in Newborns

What Is the Most Common Cause of Neonatal Seizures? Did Malpractice Lead to Your Newborn’s Seizures? Last week, I was researching birth injuries and came across a fascinating paper from the American Academy of Neurology about the causes of seizures in newborns. In studying neonatal…

Shoulder Dystocia and Lack of Oxygen to the Brain

Shoulder dystocia occurs when the baby’s head emerges during delivery, but one or both shoulders remains trapped behind the mother’s pubic bone, preventing completion of delivery of the baby. This may cause the baby to suffer from oxygen deprivation if the umbilical cord is compressed…

Complications from Fetal Macrosomia

A baby born weighing more than 8 pounds 13 ounces (or 4,000 grams) weighs significantly more than the average baby, and so meets the definition for macrosomia, or “big baby syndrome”, which carries with it the risk of injury during delivery.   If the baby’s birthweight…

Seizure Activity in Newborns – Hypoxia

According to the Florida Neonatal Neurological Network about 20 out of every 1,000 full term births will be affected by a lack of oxygen to the brain (hypoxia) during labor and delivery.  Babies who are born prematurely are at even greater risk, because their lungs…