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    Birth Injury

    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:

    • The baby is large

    • The baby is not head-first in the birth canal

    • The baby is born prematurely, or too early

    • The size or shape of the mother's pelvis or birth canal makes it difficult for a normal vaginal birth

    • Labor is difficult or very long, such as when contractions aren't strong enough to move the baby through the birth canal

    • The mother is very overweight

    • There is a cesarean delivery

    • 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:

    • Swelling or bruising of the head

    • Bleeding underneath a cranial bone

    • Breakage of small blood vessels in the eyes of a baby

    • Facial nerve injury caused by pressure on the baby's face

    • Injury to the group of nerves that supplies the arms and hands 

    • Fracture of the clavicle or collarbone

    Online Medical Reviewer: Donna Freeborn PhD CNM FNP
    Online Medical Reviewer: Mary Terrell MD
    Online Medical Reviewer: Stacey Wojcik MBA BSN RN
    Date Last Reviewed: 8/1/2023
    © 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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    Southern New Mexico
    Surgery Center

    2301 Indian Wells Rd. Suite B
    Alamogordo, NM 88310
    www.snmsc.org

    Phone: 575.437.0890
    Fax: 575.437.0905
    Email: info@snmsc.org

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