| Many injuries to newborns are avoidable. Permanent | | | | result of lack of oxygen to the brain of the fetus during |
| brain damage caused by fetal distress is often caused | | | | the birthing process. Lack of oxygen can have a |
| by tragic errors and mistakes by the obstetrical | | | | devastating effect on the fetus prior to birth. Some |
| team. Injury to the newborn baby’s brain is many | | | | explanations for this event occurring are umbilical cord |
| times due to failing to properly manage the labor and | | | | prolapse, an unusual position of the baby in the birth |
| delivery, leading to cerebral palsy. | | | | canal, dysfunctional labor (one that is too long or the |
| The following is a list of possible medical errors that | | | | contractions are too strong). The use of Pitocin can |
| can lead to fetal brain injury: | | | | also have a tragic effect on the fetus by causing |
| Failure to respond to umbilical cord compression | | | | unnatural contractions which limit the amount of |
| Failure to respond to fetal distress and fetal monitoring | | | | oxygen to the baby causing devastating brain damage. |
| sensors | | | | The condition of the baby right after birth can alert the |
| Failure to respond to the need for a cesarean section | | | | parents and the obstetrical team to the fact that the |
| in a timely manner | | | | infant has indeed suffered a brain injury. However, |
| Misuse of forceps | | | | fetal brain injury is not always apparent immediately |
| Misuse of extractor | | | | after the birth. The brain injury may not become |
| The alert obstetrician will observe potential problems | | | | apparent for weeks, months or years after when the |
| and immediately take the proper steps before brain | | | | child fails to meet developmental milestones during this |
| injury can occur. Physician delay or inaction in making | | | | time. |
| decisions can cause irreparable harm to the newborn | | | | Lack of oxygen at birth can be avoided by good |
| baby. | | | | obstetrical and neonatal care. You may want to |
| Lack of Oxygen | | | | investigate what happened to your baby and whether |
| Fetal brain injury and Cerebral palsy are often the | | | | his/her injury could have been prevented. |