What is a birth injury?
Occasionally during the birth process, the baby may suffer a birth injury. This is due to an unfavorable event that occurred during birth. This may also be called birth trauma. A birth injury or birth trauma refers to a wide range of injuries that affect the baby's body function or structure. The injuries can be mild to severe. They can result in significant damage or even be life-threatening.
What causes birth injury?
Birth injuries are more common when:
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The baby is large
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The baby is not head-first in the birth canal
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The baby is born prematurely, or too early
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The size or shape of the mother's pelvis or birth canal makes it difficult for a normal vaginal birth
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Labor is difficult or very long, such as when contractions aren't strong enough to move the baby through the birth canal
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The mother is very overweight
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There is a cesarean delivery
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Devices, like vacuum or forceps, are used to deliver the baby
What are some of the more common birth injuries?
The following are common birth injuries:
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Swelling or bruising of the head
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Bleeding underneath a cranial bone
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Breakage of small blood vessels in the eyes of a baby
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Facial nerve injury caused by pressure on the baby's face
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Injury to the group of nerves that supplies the arms and hands
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Fracture of the clavicle or collarbone
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