Being pregnant can be both exciting and a bit scary. When you go into labour, you will more than likely be ready to meet your new baby, but you may also be apprehensive about the process. In most cases, labour and delivery progress normally. However, approximately 8% of all births will involve what is known […]
Birth Injuries
Improper Fetal Monitoring
During pregnancy as well as the labour and delivery process, it is critical to ensure that the baby is getting sufficient oxygen. This is done by monitoring the fetal heart rate (since fetal heart rate changes as oxygenation increases or decreases). An abnormal heart rate may indicate that the infant is in distress. If a […]
Financial Support for Parents of Children with Disabilities
When your child is born with a birth injury or defect, your life changes in an instant. One of the biggest challenges that many parents of kids with disabilities face is financial strain. This may arise because one parent has to stop working to care for their child or simply from the costs associated with […]
Long-Term Effects of Placental Abruption During Labour
When a person is pregnant, a placenta develops in the uterus. The placenta provides oxygen and nutrients to the baby as it grows and removes waste products from the baby’s blood. If a problem develops with the placenta, it can affect the baby and mother’s health. For example, if the placenta separates from the inner […]
True Knot in Umbilical Cord: Long Term Effects
Every pregnant mother hopes that things will go perfectly with her pregnancy, but sadly there are many things that can go wrong during a pregnancy. In most cases, proper monitoring and medical care during pregnancy, labour, and delivery can prevent or reduce the risk of serious complications – and increase the likelihood of a safe, […]
Long Term Effects of a Nuchal Cord
During pregnancy, the umbilical cord is a lifeline for a fetus, providing all of the blood, oxygen, and nutrients that they need to grow and thrive. In some cases, however, your baby’s umbilical cord can become a danger to them – such as when it wraps around a baby’s neck, resulting in strangulation. When the […]
Signs and Symptoms of Brain Bleeds in Babies (Intracranial Hemorrhages)
A brain bleed – also known as an intracranial hemorrhage – occurs within the brain or between the brain and the skull. When this occurs, it can damage the brain tissue and cause long-term effects. In some cases, a brain bleed may even be fatal. While not all brain bleeds are preventable, there are situations […]
Low Blood Sugar in Babies: Signs, Symptoms, Treatment
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, during the first 2 – 72 hours after birth remains one of the most common metabolic conditions for newborns in Canada. Low blood sugar is a disorder that occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to regulate glucose in the bloodstream. Glucose levels measure how much sugar is in […]
HIE: The First Year
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a type of birth injury that happens when a newborn’s brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen due to decreased blood flow. The consequences of HIE depends on the severity of the diagnosis. Mild HIE cases can result in little or no long-term impact. A diagnosis of moderate HIE can mean intellectual, […]
Alberta to Begin Screening Newborns for Four New Conditions
Alberta Health Services officially introduced the screening for four new metabolic health conditions for every newborn child starting in late May, and the impact of these new tests were almost immediate felt through the diagnosis of a baby boy with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) in early July. The boy’s name is Hudson Cowie, and he […]
Information about Birth Injury Childcare
Children who endure birth injuries will often have an array of disabilities that will last over the course of their lifetime. These disabilities may include cerebral palsy, in which a child has physical and cognitive disabilities therapy, treatment and lifelong care. Some birth injuries will only affect one specific area, for instance, mental impairment or physical […]
How is Cerebral Palsy Treated? What parents need to know
Cerebral palsy (CP) the diagnosis given to a collection of symptoms caused by an injury to the brain that impacts (among other things) muscle control. CP has many causes (including hypoxia during labour and delivery), a wide range of manifestations, and no known cure. So, if your child has been diagnosed with CP what type […]
How Does Cerebral Palsy Affect Social Development?
The creation and building of social relationships are one of many milestones that children affected by cerebral palsy may have difficulty in achieving. But how exactly does cerebral palsy affect social development, especially as children are learning how to walk, talk, and interact with others? Whether it is due to mobility, difficulties in communicating needs […]
Birth Injury Myths and Facts
Distinguishing the facts from the myths surrounding birth injuries can be an overwhelming and stressful endeavor for current and future parents alike. No parent enjoys thinking about the thought of something happening to their child—or remembering that something has happened to them—but understanding the facts (and your legal options) can be an immense aid for […]
Problems After Forceps Delivery for Mother & Baby
New Study Shows that 1 in 4 Forceps Deliveries Cause Trauma to Mothers and Babies A recently published study of over two million one-baby deliveries conducted by the Canadian Medical Association Journal has revealed that, between 2004 and 2014, the rate of birth injuries involving forceps delivery has sharply increased from a rate of 19.4 […]
