Having a baby is the greatest miracle we can ever be a part of, and from the moment you find out you are expecting you will be hit with a rush of emotions, a ton of information and plenty of classes to prepare you for the birth.
Unfortunately though, no matter how much we prepare with books, classes and healthy habits, sometimes things will happen during the birth. There are many different things which can go wrong during a birth, but the one we are going to mention today is known as newborn hypoxia.
Hypoxia is a condition which occurs when oxygen is unable to reach the tissue inside the body. It will happen either just before or just after the birth, and can be detrimental for your child’s health. The main issue which arises from this condition is that your child is rendered unable to breath for a period of time, and this starves the brain of the oxygen it needs. As a result, brain cells can lerish, and health issues such as cerebral palsy can be the result.
How does it happen?
It is heartbreaking to think about hypoxia during birth because it is often a condition which is explained by your lifestyle habits during the pregnancy, or it can be the fault of the doctors and nurses for not monitoring the foetus well enough during the pregnancy. If the issue does seem to be the fault of medical staff during the pregnancy, then you can get yourself some legal help for newborn hypoxia during birth. If you are not sure who is at fault for the issue, here are some of the lifestyle choices which may affect your child’s ability to breathe:
- smoking
- brain injury
- anemia
- Birth asphyxia
If any of these apply to you, you may not be able to ask for legal help when you child suffers during their birth.
What are the long term effects?
When your child suffers from hypoxia during their birth, there are a number of things which can happen as a result. Depending on how long it has been since your child could breathe, the effects may not be as severe as the ones listed below, however it is still an issue which is incredibly scary for any new parent to go through.
- Cerebral palsy (CP)
- Severe seizures
- Cognitive disabilities
- Behavioral disorders
How do you treat it?
Believe it or not, one of the best ways to treat hypoxia is by inducing the child with Hypothermia. This might seem like a problem waiting to happen but it can slow the child’s body functions and therefore preserve their life, as well as reducing the effects which less oxygen will have on the body. As long as your child has this treatment within 6 hours of giving birth, you should be able to prevent some of the more serious implications that this condition can have. You’ll be able to be safe in the knowledge that your child is safe, healthy and happy.