Delivering a healthy baby is the ultimate goal for both parents and healthcare providers. From a fertilized egg to childbirth, the journey of a new life is miraculous.
However, childbirth is still one of the most difficult experiences of a person’s life. Although developments in medical science have considerably improved neonatal outcomes, an infant’s vulnerability to birth injuries remains a major concern. Recent statistics reveal that every 7 in 1000 infants suffer from some form of neonatal injuries during pregnancy and childbirth.
Neonatal injuries include a broad spectrum of minor to major birth injuries, from slight bruises to brain and nerve damage, broken bones, and severe oxygen deprivation. These injuries can affect a child’s long-term physical and mental health and may result in lifelong disabilities and psychological issues. This article will discuss common neonatal injuries, their causes, and their long-term psychological effects on victims.
Common Neonatal Injuries
Neonatal or birth trauma typically refers to the injuries that a mother or child faces during childbirth or shortly after birth. Here are some common neonatal injuries that an infant may experience:
1. Birth Asphyxia or Oxygen Deficiency
Prolonged labor, underdeveloped lungs, and a prolapsed umbilical cord are all factors that can limit the supply of oxygen to babies during and after birth. A limited oxygen supply can adversely affect vital organs like the brain and heart.
Brain damage during asphyxia can cause lifelong neurological disorders like cerebral palsy. However, timely diagnosis and treatment can help improve the quality of life in affected children. Organizations like Cerebral Palsy Guide can help parents explore the possible causes, symptoms, medical treatments, and legal options.
However, oxygen deprivation is only one of the many causes of cerebral palsy. It can also affect children who have experienced medical negligence during childbirth. If you suspect your child has suffered from neonatal injuries due to medical malpractice, you can file a lawsuit against the practitioner or hospital. Filing a lawsuit will help you get financial compensation to seek medical treatment and improve the quality of life for your child.
2. Brachial Plexus Injury
The brachial plexus is a group of nerves attached to the spinal cord that control the movement of arms, hands, and fingers. When these nerves are damaged during labor or right after birth, it can lead to limited movement in the arms or lifelong impairment, muscle weakness, or even paralysis in one or both arms. This condition is called Erb’s Palsy, which occurs mostly due to medical negligence during delivery.
An infant’s neck, shoulder, and spinal cord are extremely fragile at the time of birth. When a healthcare provider puts unnecessary pressure on the infant’s neck or shoulders during delivery, it can rupture or detach the brachial plexus nerves from the spinal cord, causing lifelong injury that cannot be cured. The brachial plexus nerves can also be damaged if the healthcare team uses forceps or vacuum extractors during delivery.
3. Congenital cephalohematoma
Cephalohematoma is the accumulation of blood between the baby’s skull and the inner layers of the head’s skin. This type of injury is often caused by mishandling the baby during childbirth or using forceps and vacuum extractors. If the healthcare provider applies undue pressure on the baby’s skull to pull it out of the womb, it ruptures blood vessels in the tissue covering the baby’s skull. The injury may also occur due to prolonged second-stage labor or if the baby is mishandled right after birth.
Fortunately, cephalohematoma can heal on its own and may not cause any physical or mental problems later in life. However, if the blood clot is left untreated, it can put extra pressure on the brain tissue, which can potentially cause impairment or even death.
4. Spinal Cord injuries
Spinal cord injuries tear or detach the nerves connecting the brain to the lower body. Spinal cord injuries range from minor bruises to spinal rupture and severe damage to the nervous system. Since a newborn’s spinal cord is extremely fragile, such damage can cause lifelong impairments, mental disorders, and even death.
Since all spinal cord or nervous system disorders can be detected before birth, a spinal cord injury is typically caused by medical malpractice. It can occur when a healthcare professional uses forceps or vacuum extractors inappropriately or forcefully pulls out a newborn.
Long-Term Psychological Effects of Neonatal Injuries
Childbirth injuries can have a range of immediate and long-term psychological effects. Here’s how neonatal injuries can affect a child’s mental health and cognitive functions:
1. Developmental Delays
Oxygen deprivation, hematomas, nerve damage or detachment, and intraventricular hemorrhage can cause permanent damage to a child’s brain, resulting in a range of physiological and psychological disorders. One of the most prominent and prevailing after-effects of these injuries is developmental delays in growing children. Infants who suffer from childbirth injuries may miss important developmental milestones such as:
- Sitting, crawling, walking, running, and jumping
- Pull themselves up to sit or stand
- Holding objects after three months of age
- Response to sounds and lights
- Smiling and laughing
- Carrying out tasks independently
- Sitting without support after 12 months of age
- Mimicking others
- Following verbal instructions at 18 months
- Recognizing family members
2. Behavioral Changes
The trauma of experiencing serious birth injuries not only leaves its marks on parents but also has a lifelong effect on the child’s mental health. Although the infant cannot recall the experience, the unconscious part of the brain is deeply affected, resulting in behavioral changes and limited cognitive functions later in life. Such children are likely to be crankier, more aggressive, and exhibit abrupt mood swings.
Moreover, a child’s inability to reach developmental milestones can cause frustration, and they may struggle to interact with their peers and the environment. This could lead to an early onset of anxiety and depression in children that can worsen over time.
3. Mother-Child Bonding and Affection
Complicated labor and childbirth often need immediate medical interventions. Moreover, babies that undergo childbirth injuries are taken to the intensive care units for medical assistance and monitoring. This could affect the infant’s ability to develop bonding and feelings of affection for the parents and may impact their psychological development later in life.
4. Autism and ADHD
Research shows that children who experience minor to significant birth injuries or develop prolonged jaundice or kernicterus later on are 72% more likely to fall under the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some children may develop mild to acute ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) symptoms, which include impulsive behavior, hyperactivity, lack of focus, and difficulty socializing and regulating emotions.
5. Poor Self-Esteem
Mental or physical impairments, permanent muscle weaknesses, and visible scars can greatly influence a child’s self-esteem and body image as they grow older. They might face social challenges due to their appearance and may find it hard to fit in. When children find it difficult to engage with peers or participate in social activities, they may feel isolated or excluded, leading to chronic anxiety and depression.
Final Thoughts
Neonatal injuries can have a devastating effect on a child’s physical and mental health. It’s important to stay vigilant for any symptoms of childbirth injuries during the early years of life. Timely diagnosis and treatment not only minimize the psychological impact of birth injuries but also promote your child’s physical, mental, and social well-being.
