Uterine Forceps

Uterine Forceps

Brain Injuries at Birth

No birth can be guaranteed to be perfect and many babies are at risk for brain injury during birth. That could be because of:

· Large birthweight – eight pounds, 13 ounces or more

· Prematurity – delivery before 37 weeks

· Small-sized maternal pelvis

· Abnormal presentation – breech delivery

· Prolonged labor

Preferably in most of these situations, a C-section can be done – even an emergency C-section.

Ways that birth can injure the baby’s brain

1. Skull Injury

A baby’s skull is soft and the bones are not firmly fused. That means that if anything compresses the skull, it can damage the brain. This could be done by:

· The force of labor contractions against the skull – which would usually not cause lasting damage. But sometimes the scalp is bruised and the associated swelling can cause brain injury

· Too strong a use of forceps – which can compress the skull and cause lasting brain injury

2. Lack of oxygen

Insufficient oxygen to the baby’s brain for too long a period will cause permanent brain injury. Ways this can happen are:

· The baby does not get enough oxygen in between contractions to last for the duration of contractions, when oxygen stops flowing through the placenta.

· The baby is born prematurely with inadequately developed lungs. Therefore when it takes the first breath after birth, it is immediately in Respiratory Distress Syndrome. This can be treated with an artificial surfactant to substitute for the baby’s missing natural surfactant in the lungs. It’s a foamy substance that lowers surface tension inside the tiny lung air sacs and keeps them from collapsing. But if it is not done quickly, the brain can be deprived of oxygen too long and sustain injury.

· Fetal distress during birth was not noticed. If no fetal monitoring is done of the baby’s heart rate, the delivery room staff may not know it is getting insufficient oxygen. A baby with fetal distress should be immediately be given a C-section.

· Placental abruption – the placenta separates from the uterine wall, therefore being cut off from the mother’s blood circulation. This lowers the baby’s blood circulation.

· Cord prolapse – the umbilical cord becomes pinched during birth, cutting off the baby’s supply of oxygen

All these situations need swift intervention to prevent brain injury to the baby.

Cerebral palsy

This is a name for a cluster of results of brain injury during birth. They are permanent conditions of disordered physical movement, posture and balance. The impairment becomes evident in infancy, as the child is slow to learn how to sit, crawl and walk. Each case is individual. There may be seizures, breathing problems, bladder control problems, dental problems, and many more, and they can range from mild to very severe.

About the Author

If you have a child who sustained a brain injury during birth, please contact us for a free case evaluation. We can gather information to determine if you have a valid legal claim of medical malpractice. Our office serves residents of Florida, especially in the Jacksonville area.

How long was your labor with your first, and subsequent, babies?

And how far along were you?
Did you have back labor or uterine contraction pains or both?
What, if any, pain relief did you receive?
How long did you spend pushing?
Did you tear or receive an episiotomy?
How long did it take for that to heal?
Did you have forceps or a vacuum to aid in the delivery?
How long until you could have sex again comfortably (Little to no pain)?
Also, was it a boy or a girl, or multiple gestations?
How much did he/she weigh?

Me:
I have one baby..

I was in labor for 6 hours,
I had both types of pain, but got the epidural.
And I spend three of those six hours pushing my baby out.
I had an episiotomy, and it still hasn't healed, one month later. My stitches refuse to dissolve and I've developed an infection, I believe.. Dr's appt in two days.
I had a vacuum extractor because her head was so big I couldn't push it out on my own!
And I haven't gotten to that point yet!
I had a little girl, who weighed 7lb, 14oz.

Thank you all!!

ME:
Labour for 8 days
advanced labour (after 2 inducements - 1 failed, 1 successful) 14 hours
second stage (pushing) 5 hours
Baby turned head and got stuck (resulted in forceps delivery and episiotomy)

Lots of blood loss, had an epidural (after gas and pethidine shot) for pain. My episiotomy went awry also. Closer to the anus, the stitches disolved too early, leaving me with a wound/hole.
Surgery to fix it didnt help much. Severe pain for up to 10 months later (not 24/7 but lots - picking up baby was hard)
14 months on episiotomy is still not healed properly (not how I believe it should be) and is painful at times.

My son was 4020g or about 8lb 14oz; 51cm long; 34cm head circumference.

He is my first baby!

See your doctor, let him help, its horrible having more invasion down there, but it will eventually be for the better. What's one more person looking and poking down there anyway?

Oh I probably should say that I tried to have sex twice a few months after baby but it was so painful couldnt even get halfway through penetration. Havent tried since cos im petrified of the pain (be aware I am a single mummy). But apparently 6 weeks to 2 months is the norm. If it hurts, stop. Dont cause yourself extra pain. Use lube and position like woman on top so you can be in control of the depth more.

Good luck and congrats on the baby girl

MISP2009-kivnick-dissection of uterine vessels to fornix