Chicago Birth Injury Lawyer Blog

Researchers at Harvard Medical School recently released a paper in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology that found the average birth weight in American newborns has dropped by two ounces. The study looked at babies born between 1990 and 2005 and noted that this was the first decline in average birth weight since the 1950s. Additionally, the study found a decrease in the number of large babies born. This is seen as a positive because it leads to fewer instances of birth trauma. A decrease in the number of babies born over the 90th percentile also reduces the occurrence of serious birth injuries that can lead to lifelong health conditions, such as cerebral palsy. Follow the link to read more about this birth weight study.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention , Cerebral Palsy , Current Issues , Reports & Studies

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The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has just announced that it will be launching a new research program called the Medication Exposure in Pregnancy Risk Evaluation Program to study the effects of prescription drugs taken during pregnancy. The program is a collaborative effort between the FDA and researchers at the HMO Research Network Center for Education and Research in Therapeutics (CERT), Kaiser Permanente, and Vanderbilt University.

According to a new study, most mothers have taken at least one prescription drug during pregnancy, yet little is known about the actual risks of taking such drugs, such as the development of birth defects, because clinical research regarding drug safety during pregnancy is scant. This new program should provide the answers that doctors need for prescribing medications and allow expectant mothers to make informed decisions regarding the health of themselves and their babies.

Read more about the details of this new study at injuryboard.com.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention , Reports & Studies

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A new study in the January issue of Radiology found that an ultrasound can now be used to detect a posterior shoulder dislocation in infants 3 to 6 months old with a permanent brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI). A doctor from Finland performed ultrasonography to screen for posterior shoulder subluxation in 132 infants with brachial plexus at various times. Their research showed that posterior shoulder subluxation of the humeral head developed in one-third of the 27 patients with permanent BPBI that failed to heal in the first year. It was detected by ultrasound in 55 percent of patients at 3 months of age and in 89 percent of patients at 6 months of age. The ultrasound has proved to be a useful tool for diagnosis of a birth injury. It should be performed on the glenohumeral joint at age 3 and 6 months of age if the symptoms persist. To learn more about the ultrasound therapy, please click the link.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Treatment , Brachial Plexus , Reports & Studies

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A research team at Wayne State University is convinced that the big solution to preventing and treating cerebral palsy may come in a small package. The husband-and-wife team consisting of chemical engineering professor, Rangaramanujam Kannan and assistant pediatrics professor Dr. Sujatha Kannan, has received a patent for using tiny polymers to attack what it considers to be the root of the disorder: inflammation in the brain.

Cerebral palsy is a condition made up of a group of motor disorders caused by brain damage that often occurs after suffering from a birth injury or an infection that develops while in the womb. Prevention of the condition has thus far proven to be very difficult because it is generally diagnosed only after the damage has already occurred.

The research team has developed tiny tree-shaped polymers called dendrimers, which range from 5-10 nanometers long (over 700 times smaller than a human red blood cell), that are used to carry medicine directly to inflamed areas in the brain. The team believes that this method, in conjunction with the identification and diagnosis of the neuroinflammation in newborns, could prevent, or at least reduce, the development of cerebral palsy. Dr. Kannan is currently able to detect such inflammation in the brains of newborn rabbits and she believes that doctors might eventually be able to do the same in human newborns. Once detected, the dendrimers could then be used to target the inflammation, which in turn could prevent the condition from developing.

For more information on using this nanotechnology to treat cerebral palsy, click here.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention , Birth Injury Treatment , Cerebral Palsy , Reports & Studies

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In a recent study conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the cases of child birth injuries are decreasing due to some medical breakthroughs and improvements on the healthcare system. The agency recently released data from 1,000 hospitals across the US and found that more than 157,000 child birth injuries could have prevented. The most common of the preventable birth injuries was the tearing between the vagina and rectum. This process is not complicated; however, some doctors had failed to fix it perfectly so that it caused complications. The study also revealed that instruments such as forceps put mothers at higher risk of vaginal tears. Also, mothers from wealthy households were 44 percent more likely to have vaginal injuries compared to those from low-income families. This is due to the increase in premature births in low-income families. The study also showed that certain factors can determine the likelihood of injuries in child birth. White babies are more vulnerable to injuries compared to ethnic groups such as African-American and Hispanic. Also male infants are more vulnerable to birth injuries than female babies. The government data showed that the most common injury among babies is a clavicle fracture. Also babies can dislocate their hips or break their thigh bone when their leg is twisted during deliveries. In some deliveries, brachial plexus, which is a group of nerves located from the neck and arm, may be injured. This happens when the baby’s head and arm is pulled in two opposite directions. To read more about the birth injury study, please click the link.

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Birth injuries have become so common that about 10 out of every 1000 births have some injury. Common birth injuries include bruising, head swelling, facial paralysis, brachial palsy fractured bones and brain injuries. Most of these birth injuries are caused by medical malpractice and negligence. Birth injuries may not be apparent immediately after birth. To read more click here “birth injury”

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Before birth, a baby’s lungs are filled with fluid and very little oxygen flows through them. Instead, it receives oxygen through the placenta and umbilical cord. When an infant is born, a burst of oxygen-rich blood is delivered to him or her by a pulsation of the placenta and umbilical cord until its lungs are working and supplying oxygen on their own. This surge of blood is necessary in order for the newborn’s lungs to adequately expand and supply the brain with the oxygen it needs. Without it, the baby’s lungs fail to function adequately, causing his or her blood pressure to drop. This in turn can lead to oxygen deprivation and result in lung and brain damage.

In as little as 5 minutes after birth, the umbilical cord naturally begins to clamp, halting this blood flow. The common practice of hospitals, however, is to immediately place a clamp on the cord, usually within 1 minute, and often within 30 seconds, following the baby’s birth. This deprives the baby of a continuous source of oxygen until the lungs begin functioning properly. In addition to injuring the baby’s lungs, this lack of oxygen can cause serious brain damage, leading to birth injuries such as cerebral palsy, autism, learning disorders and mental deficiency.

Click here for information about a study into the dangers of premature cord clamping and for more information about umbilical cord clamping birth injuries.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention , Cerebral Palsy , Lack of Oxygen to Fetus , Reports & Studies

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A doctor recently unveiled medical software that may predict the probability of shoulder dystocia during birth. Shoulder dystocia is one of the most common complications during delivery and 20% of cases result in birth injury. Although some doctors believe that shoulder dystocia is both “unpredictable and unpreventable,” users of the new software hope to calculate the risk of this birth injury through algorithms based on data from the mother and baby. Read more about this new software that may predict shoulder dystocia in newborns.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention , Reports & Studies , Shoulder Dystocia

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The FDA announced yesterday that it will require new warnings for Botox and all other Botulinum Toxin products. Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostriduam botulinum. It is the most toxic protein known to scientists and one of the most lethal substances to occur in nature. Although not approved for such use, it is often prescribed to children with cerebral palsy, who are injected with the drug in an effort to control limb spasticity that is associated with the disorder. The drug works by paralyzing the muscles, which restricts unwanted movement. After injection, however, the toxin can migrate to other areas of the body, including those muscles used to breathe, causing potentially deadly paralysis. The FDA stated that this adverse affect has occurred most frequently in children with cerebral palsy and that several children with the birth injury have died as a result of the treatment.

The new label requirement includes a black box warning, a type of warning that is reserved for drugs with significant risks of serious or life-threatening adverse affects.

For more information on the FDA’s Botox warning, click here.

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A new study published in this month’s issue of the medical journal Acta Pædiatrica suggests that babies conceived during the Spring and Summer may have a greater risk of developing birth defects, including spina bifida, cleft lip, clubfoot and Down's syndrome. The study looked at over 30 million births and found that the children of women whose last menstrual period occurred in April, May, June or July had an increased number of birth defects.

According to the first author of the study, Paul Winchester, M.D., “elevated concentrations of pesticides and other agrochemicals in surface water during April through July coincided with significantly higher risk of birth defects in live births conceived by women whose last menstrual period began in the same months. While our study didn't prove a cause and effect link, the fact that birth defects and pesticides in surface water peak during the same four months makes us suspect that the two are related."

Click here for more about this birth defect study.

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A new study published in this month’s issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology finds that women who experience shoulder dystocia incur an increased risk of the complication recurring in subsequent deliveries. The study, which looked at the deliveries of womens’ second children, found that shoulder dystocia occurred in 0.8% of all women, but that women with shoulder dystocia in their first delivery had a 7.3% risk of recurrence. While the prior experience of shoulder dystocia does increase the likelihood of future delivery complications, the study’s authors emphasized that the baby’s birthweight is the most important factor in predicting the probability of the birth injury's occurrence.

Click the following link for more information on the shoulder dystocia study.

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Posted In: Erb's Palsy , Reports & Studies , Shoulder Dystocia

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When it comes to babies who are deprived of oxygen during birth, every second counts. Delays in the performance of c-sections can cause serious injuries to oxygen-deprived babies, such as brain damage and cerebral palsy. Hospitals and doctors can significantly reduce the length of c-section delays, however, by implementing quality improvement programs by doctors and hospitals, according to a new study published in this month’s issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In particular, the study found that, after 2 years of following such a program, the number of emergency c-sections that were delayed for over 30 minutes was reduced by up to 30% in some situations. These findings suggest that many devastating birth injuries could be prevented if hospitals and doctors simply implemented programs to address the delays.

Click the following link for more information about the quality improvement program study and its findings.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention , C-Section Delay , Cerebral Palsy , Lack of Oxygen to Fetus , Reports & Studies

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Babies who are deprived of oxygen for any significant period of time during birth have a very high risk of suffering permanent brain damage. This risk of birth injury has shown to be reduced, however, by a new therapy that is pretty cool, literally. The therapy, called induced hypothermia, involves placing an infant on a cooling blanket within 6 hours of its birth for a period of 3 days, bringing its temperature down from the normal 98.6 degrees to about 92 degrees. Research shows that, while the therapy may not completely prevent brain damage, babies suffering from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), or birth hypoxia and asphyxia, that receive the treatment have a greater chance of survival and the extent of their brain damage from oxygen deprivation is reduced.

Read more about this new cooling therapy here.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention , Birth Injury Treatment , Fetus/Fetal Asphyxia , Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) , Lack of Oxygen to Fetus , Reports & Studies

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A new study from the University of Munster, in Germany, suggests that women who breastfeed significantly reduce the risk of their babies dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as crib death. The study was based on the observation of over 1,000 infants and found that, after one month, babies who were fed exclusively with breast milk were 50% less likely to die of SIDS.

Read more about the study and its statistical findings here.

To learn more about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, visit the American SIDS Institute’s website.

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Posted In: Crib death , Reports & Studies

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Scientists at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., have developed two compounds that may be effective in protecting against cerebral palsy. The findings from their experiments with rabbits suggest that the compounds may have prevented the development of the disorder, which would have otherwise developed, following a lack of oxygen to the fetus. Notably, all of the fetuses born to mother rabbits that were treated with the compounds survived, whereas, over half of those without treatment died. Perhaps most impressive is that 83% of the animals treated with one of the compounds were born without any characteristics of cerebral palsy at all. More testing is necessary before they can conclude that the compounds will work to prevent birth injuries in humans, but these findings bring hope that infants subjected to birth hypoxia, such as those who suffer umbilical cord compression during labor, need not suffer permanent brain damage.

Read more about this exciting cerebral palsy prevention breakthrough in an article published by US News & World Report.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention , Cerebral Palsy , Fetus/Fetal Asphyxia , Lack of Oxygen to Fetus , Reports & Studies

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New research, presented at the Third International Cerebral Palsy Conference in Sydney, Australia, indicates that babies born in the breech position (feet-first) are 4 times more likely to develop cerebral palsy later in life than babies born in the normal (head-first) position. According to Diana Heggie, President of Cerebral Palsy Australia, knowing the risk factors of the developmental disorder is just as important as being aware of its current treatment.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention , Cerebral Palsy , Reports & Studies

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A new study by scientists from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Danish researchers has found that babies born to mothers who develop infections while pregnant have a greater risk of having cerebral palsy. Specifically, the study found that the risk of cerebral palsy was increased by 3 to 6 times when the mother had developed infections such as urinary tract infections. This research suggests that missed or delayed diagnoses of the infections, resulting in a lack of early treatment, may cause this birth injury in some babies.

Read more about the pregnancy infection study here.

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While babies can develop cerebral palsy a number of different ways, including as a result of medical negligence during birth, premature babies have a significantly higher risk of developing the developmental disorder than babies carried full-term. In fact, about a third of all cases of cerebral palsy occur in pre-term births. Evidence from a new Cochrane Review study, however, indicates that treating women at risk of very preterm birth with magnesium sulfate may increase the baby’s chance of being born free of cerebral palsy by as much as 32 percent. The treatment was also found to decrease the chance of developing other major movement disabilities by 39 percent.

Read more about the magnesium sulfate study here.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention , Cerebral Palsy , Pre-term Birth , Reports & Studies

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A new study has found that treating even mild gestational diabetes significantly reduces the risk of certain birth injuries and lessens the need for emergency C-sections. Gestational diabetes occurs during late pregnancy, when a mother’s body is unable to produce and use all the insulin that it needs. Without enough insulin, the body is unable to convert the glucose into energy and, as a result, it builds up in the mother’s blood. This blood then reaches the baby through the placenta, giving it more sugar than it needs. The baby stores this excess energy as fat. Because the baby is larger than normal, there is an increased risk of its shoulders becoming lodged behind the mother’s pelvis during delivery, a situation known as shoulder dystocia. If the doctors and healthcare providers are negligent in their delivery, the baby can suffer from Brachial Plexus injuries. These injuries can be severe and permanent and may include paralysis and deformation of the baby’s arms. If you have been diagnosed with even a mild case of gestational diabetes, it is therefore important that you receive proper treatment in order to reduce these risks.

Read more about gestational diabetes and its risks here.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention , Brachial Plexus , Reports & Studies , Shoulder Dystocia

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New research indicates that infants born just a few weeks prematurely are over three times more likely to develop cerebral palsy than full-term infants. The new study, sponsored in part by the March of Dimes, found that the earlier an infant is born, the higher the risk of some neuro-developmental problems. According to the research, babies born between the 30th to 33rd gestation weeks were almost 8 times more likely to have cerebral palsy than babies that were carried full-term (37 weeks).

Read more about the study here.

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Posted In: Cerebral Palsy , Pre-term Birth , Reports & Studies

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Some hospitals have decided to reduce labor inducement in order to prevent birth injuries. These hospitals are participating in a Zero Birth Injury safety campaign. The campaign puts restrictions on who could seek early labor inducement to prevent birth injuries such as respiratory distress, severe infections, and broken collarbones. These newborns spend large amounts of time in intensive care which rapidly increases medical costs. Both the New England Journal of Medicine and the March of Dimes support this campaign’s finding that babies born prior to 39 weeks are more at risk for these birth complications.

For the full story, click here.

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Birth injuries are commonly known side-effects of smoking while pregnant. Examples include underweight babies, sudden infant death syndrome, heart defects and other problems. A new smoking-related birth injury is now being researched. Researchers have found that smoking can have an effect on the thyroids of babies, as well as the mothers who smoke during pregnancy. Thyroid problems during pregnancy can lead to low birth weight, brain injury, premature birth, and even miscarriage. For the full story, click here.

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Serious birth defects may be linked to injections of the drug Dysport, similar to popular anti-wrinkle treatment Botox. A birth injury was reported in Australia when a baby was born deaf and blind after the mother was given facial injections of Dysport during the first week of gestation. The drug, a botulinum type A toxin like Botox, has known side effects in patients such as facial paralysis, dizziness, visual disturbances, fatigue, difficulty swallowing, anxiety and hallucinations. Botox has also been linked to deaths of children with cerebral palsy in the past. For the full article, click here.

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Posted In: Cerebral Palsy , Current Issues , Reports & Studies

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Greater than one third of mothers who chose to undergo a repeat Caesarean section had their babies earlier than the medical guidelines recommend. The earlier a baby is born the more likely they are to experience a medical complication like respiratory distress. Although babies born by Caesarean section after just 37 weeks of pregnancy are considered full term, the study shows that they were twice as likely to suffer from complications as those who were born by Caesarean after 39 weeks. The complications included respiratory distress, infections, hypoglycemia, being admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, or being hospitalized for five or more days. The findings of the study reinforce the message that “every week counts” in a pregnancy. The study was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. To read the full story, click here.

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A study has found that vitamin D deficiency may increase the likelihood of having a Caesarean section. In the early 20th Century deformed bones in the pelvis often led to a C-section, but the problem virtually disappeared with the vitamin D fortification of milk and other foods. This background information gave way to a new study which found that women with low blood levels of vitamin D were almost four times as likely to have an emergency C-section as those with normal levels. Vitamin D has been associated with muscle weakness and high blood pressure, which helps explain the finding. Pregnant women are advised to take a thousand-unit supplement of vitamin D on top of any prenatal vitamins to avoid the risk of a C-Section. Sometimes, C-Sections can be delayed, causing birth injuries. To read the full story, click here.

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The incidence rates of stillbirths and infant deaths have been examined in a recent study created by a Physician at Rochester General Hospital. The Physician determined that 2% of infant deaths occur due to significant birth injuries. Birth injuries may have long term affects however some birth injuries, usually due to physician’s errors during birth, have little if any long term affects. The physician’s report discusses some birth trauma and birth injuries such as: Cephalhematoma, Brachial plexus injury, cranial nerve and spinal cord injuries. To read the full study click here.

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Posted In: Brachial Plexus , Reports & Studies

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The March of Dimes recently graded states by comparing each state’s rate of premature birth to the nation’s objective of 7.6 percent or less. Premature babies often suffer birth injuries. The nation, as a whole, and Illinois specifically, received a “D.” You can sign the Petition for Preemies online, urging for change to prevent premature births and birth injuries.

For the full article.

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Pregnant woman who either took two types of antidepressants during their first trimester were three to four times more likely to give birth to a child with heart problems. A study shows that there is a link between the use of antidepressants such as Prozac and Paxil taking during pregnancy to birth defects in newborns. The study focused on babies born to 800 women who said they took either Prozac or Paxil during their first trimester of pregnancy compared ot more than 1,400 expectant mothers who did not. Women on Prozac gave birth to babies four times more likely to have heart anomalies, while those who took Paxil were three times more likely. Additionally smoking during pregnancy increased the risk of heart defects. Doctors warn that many heart anomalies can be treated, so expectant mothers need to consider their health as well when deciding whether or not they should continue with the drugs. It is estimated that more than 10 percent of pregnant women experience depression each year. To read the full story, click here.

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According to the March of Dimes, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of babies, the United States is failing to prevent premature births, subjecting thousands of babies to increased risk of developing disability and birth injuries. In its first annual Premature Birth Report Card, which compared each state’s actual preterm birth rate to the national Healthy People 2010 objective, Illinois received a “D.” According to the report, Illinois ranked 31st in the U.S. with a preterm birth rate of 13.1%, which is more than 70% higher than the objective of 7.6%. In addition, the number of preterm births in Illinois increased by 11% between 1995 and 2005. The United States as a whole also received a “D” grade, with no state obtaining an “A” and only one – Vermont – achieving a “B.”

The March of Dimes has identified premature birth as a leading cause of newborn death and a major cause of life-long disabilities such as learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss and other chronic conditions. The report states that some of the factors that contribute to premature birth can be addressed and it identifies several prevention opportunities.

Click here for the Illinois report and to view the entire report, click here.

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