Birth Injury

When a woman is in labor, she may spend hours pushing. It can be exhausting to the mother, and sometimes lead to fetal distress for the baby. In these cases, physicians may feel the need to do an episiotomy to speed up the labor process. Episiotomies should only be performed during emergencies, but OB/GYNs around…

A recently published USA TODAY article revealed some startling data about the number of mothers dying during childbirth. After a four-year investigation, reporter Alison Young’s research uncovered some disturbing information—the United States is now “the most dangerous place in the developed world to give birth.” More than 50,000 mothers suffer severe injuries during or after…

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is an injury to the brain that newborns suffer during delivery when their brain does not get enough oxygen, blood, or both. Also called “birth asphyxia” or “neonatal encephalopathy,” HIE is often fatal. Newborns with HIE often suffer extreme brain damage and developmental difficulties. HIE may be treated through hypothermia therapy, which…

Discussions about the potential complications of childbirth often center on injuries to the newborn baby. However, mothers also face significant risks inside of the delivery room, particularly when physicians fail to provide proper and timely treatment. Perineum trauma is a common occurrence during the delivery process, but inadequate medical care can lead to a lifetime…