Birth Injury Resource Center

Birth Injury & Birth Defect Causes

The arrival of a child is a time of joy and celebration, and for most parents, birth injuries are the furthest thing from their mind. Thankfully, in most cases, parents' expectations of a problem-free delivery and a healthy infant are met.

Sometimes, though, things go wrong. In certain cases, childbirth is complicated, and babies are not born healthy. When a newborn suffers a birth injury in the process of labor and delivery, parents are typically shocked and horrified. How and why did this injury happen?

Factors that May Lead to Birth Injuries & Birth Defects

In reality, the contractions, compressions and contortions of labor make for a difficult beginning for a tiny baby. Birth injuries from simple bruises and fractures to devastating brain damage can and do occur. Although delivering the baby by cesarean-section (c-section) may help reduce the risk for certain types of birth injuries, there is no guarantee that the delivery will be completely free of trauma.

The following are just some of the factors that may contribute to birth injuries.

• Delivery Complications
• First delivery (prima gravida). A mother's first delivery is generally more prolonged-and therefore more risky-than subsequent deliveries.
• Large fetal head. If the baby's head is too large, it may not be able to pass through the birth canal. This condition can lead to a decreased supply of oxygen and neurological damage.
• Small maternal pelvis or pelvic irregularities. The size and shape of the mother's pelvis will not accommodate a vaginal birth.
• Shoulder dystocia is a difficult delivery that occurs when the baby's shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother's pubic bone. It may lead to various types of birth injuries, including Erb's palsy, fractures, or paralysis.
• Abnormal presentation. A breech delivery, in which the baby's legs or bottom emerge first, is a frequent cause of birth injury.
• Use of forceps or vacuum extraction to hasten or facilitate vaginal delivery. If these instruments are applied improperly or with too much force, cuts, severe bruising and swelling of the baby's head or face or facial paralysis can result.
• Lack of sufficient oxygen. Some of the most debilitating birth injuries occur when a traumatic birth results in a low supply of oxygen to the baby's brain.
• Prematurity. Babies born before 37 weeks' gestation are more fragile than full-term babies and therefore more vulnerable to birth injuries. Premature babies are among the most likely to suffer hemorrhage in or around the brain.
• Use of monitoring equipment. Sensors attached to an infant's head can cause birth injuries such as scalp trauma and hemorrhaging.
• Low birth weight. Like preemies, low-birth-weight babies may be injured more easily than those of normal weight.
• Excessive birth weight. Babies over 8 pounds, 13 ounces may be too large for a vaginal birth. Attempting vaginal delivery with a baby this size or larger can lead to birth injuries.
• Chemical Exposure. The exposure to certain dangerous chemicals may result in a serious birth defect suffered by a developing fetus in a mother's womb.
• Dangerous Drugs. Birth Injuries sometime occur as a result of a prescription drug or other medication taken by the mother before or during pregnancy.

Learn about cerebral palsy, a serious type of birth injury that can be caused by labor and delivery complications such as those described above.

Resources

• eMedicine: Article by Nirupama Laroia, MD
• University of Virginia Health System: Article
• PatientPlus: Gravidity and Parity Definitions
• Merck Manual Professional: Perinatal Problems