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What are the causes of birth asphyxia?

On Behalf of | Jan 28, 2021 | Birth Injuries

One issue that has to be monitored closely is a child’s oxygen and blood flow in the womb. If the blood flow is cut off or the child is not getting enough oxygen, then they could suffer injuries from birth asphyxia.

Birth asphyxia is not always a result of medical mistakes, but in some cases, it could be a result of poor monitoring or mistakes during labor or delivery. If your child suffers from asphyxia, it’s important to know what to expect.

Birth asphyxia: What are the causes?

Birth asphyxia could occur if:

  • The mother’s oxygen level is low in her blood
  • The delivery is very long or complicated
  • The mother or child has a serious infection
  • The baby’s airway hasn’t formed properly
  • The baby’s airway is blocked
  • The baby has anemia
  • The umbilical cord has issues during delivery, such as rupturing or wrapping around the child’s neck
  • The placenta separates from the womb too early

These are all issues that happen fairly often in pregnancy, so the important thing is for medical providers to respond appropriately. They should monitor both the mother’s and the child’s vital signs, when they’re in the hospital and take emergency measures if the child or mother is put into danger at any time.

Will infants recover from birth asphyxia?

It is possible for a child to recover if they have mild or moderate asphyxia at birth. However, those who suffered from asphyxia for a long time may have permanent injuries to the heart, lungs, bowels, brain, kidney or other parts of their bodies. In some instances, children can die from asphyxia.

Therapeutic hypothermia can be used on full-term or near-term infants with asphyxia to help improve the outcome.

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