A recent study of more than 700,000 births found that infant deaths and admission to the neonatal intensive care units were 32 to 47 percent higher during night time deliveries.
These numbers were in line with all admissions in to the intensive care units leading researches to the conclusion that the cause may be that staff fatigue or experience level may be a factor.
Shoulder Dystocia is a dangerous situation for the child during birth. Shoulder dystocia can lead to cerebral palsy and Erb’s Palsy.
Shoulder dystocia occurs when the child’s shoulder gets such on the mother’s pubic bone. In most instances the child cannot be delivered without first dislodging the shoulder.
If this is not done properly the child may sustain an injury to a set of nerves called the brachial plexus. Injuries to the brachial plexus are often referred to as Erb’s Palsy. Children with Erb’s Palsy have limited dexterity in one or both arms.
In addition to injuring the child’s nerves, shoulder dystocia can also deprive the child of oxygen. Deprivation of oxygen to a child during birth can lead to the child sustaining brain damage and cerebral palsy.
If shoulder dystocia was encountered during your delivery and your child sustained an injury it is highly likely that medical malpractice played a role in your child’s injury and you should contact a lawyer immediately.
The following video demonstrates one of the maneuvers used to dislodge the child’s shoulder: the corkscrew maneuver.
The following video demonstrates how shoulder dystocia (a child’s shoulder becoming stuck on the mothers pubic bone during delivery) can lead to brachial plexus injuries and Erb’s Palsy (damage to the brachial plexus nerves). As well as how suprapubic pressure can exacerbate the injury.
From everyone here at The Law Offices of Robert A. D’Iorio, PLLC; we want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving!
This is an interesting article I found on a student athlete from Iowa. The athlete is Adrian Clayborn. Adrian is now an able bodied 6-3 and 283 pound defensive end. Even at birth he was big weighing 11lbs 3oz.
Adrian’s size now works for him; however, during his birth it may have been a disadvantage. During birth large baby’s run the risk of getting stuck in the birth canal, a condition known as shoulder dystocia.
Shoulder dystocia is a very dangerous condition that can lead to an injury called Erb’s palsy or brachial plexus palsy. Erb’s palsy is caused by the stretching or tearing of a group of nerves in shoulder called the brachial plexus.
In fact, at birth Adrian Cayborn sustained this injury which causes numbness and/or loss of function in one or both arms.
Erb’s palsy is almost always preventable. To learn more about erb’s palsy / brachial plexus palsy as well as how a doctors negligence may have led to your child’s injury please visit our website or type erbs palsy in the search box of my blog.
Here is a link to the article featuring Adrian Clayborn.
United Brachial Plexus Network (UBPN), a nonprofit organization on focused on providing support, leadership and information to those affected by a brachial plexus injury and their families recently launched a new website.
Their new website is a great resource for all interested in brachial plexus injuries or erbs palsy.
The website looks fantastic and keep up the great work!
Brachial Plexus Awareness Week starts on Oct. 18 and runs through the 24th. The goal of the weeklong event is to raise awareness for brachial plexus injuries.
Brachial plexus injuries sometimes referred to as erb’s palsy are caused by damage to a set of nerves called the brachial plexus. Damage to these nerves often result in total or partial paralysis of the hand and/or arm.
Often these injuries occur at birth. When these injuries occur at birth it is often the result of medical malpractice.
Please see my previous post or our website to learn how these injuries occur and how the doctor could have avoided the injury.
In the following video Katie Couric discusses the meaning, history and origin of Labor Day.
Please enjoy the video and have a happy and safe Labor Day!
The following video is an animation on a child encountering shoulder dystocia during delivery and the delivering physician using the Woods Corkscrew Maneuver to dislodge the shoulder to avoid a brachial plexus injury.
Today, July 25, 2009 is Patient Safety Day. Patient safety day has been observed since 2001 with over 40 States participating.
What is Patient Safety Day? Patient Safety Day is a day to remember all of those harmed by medical errors. A moment of silence and a candlelight vigil will be held to remember those harmed and to reflect on the shared vision of a safer healthcare system.
For more information on Patient Safety Day please visit their website.
Vacuum extractions can be very dangerous. If preformed improperly they can result in severe birth injuries including cerebral palsy and Erb’s Palsy.
If shoulder dystocia is encountered and the doctor attempts an extraction using a vacuum, excessive force may be applied causing nerve damage to the brachial plexus and erb’s palsy.
Additionally, excessive force applied with a vacuum can result in a brain hemorrhage, stroke and cerebral palsy.
The following video demonstrates a vacuum assisted delivery.
This week U.S. News and World Report released its 2009-10 edition of the best hospitals in the nation.
Here is the link to the top 20.
Also, here is a link to my post last year containing the top pediatric hospitals in the country for conditions such as cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy.
I would like to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July. Please enjoy this video.
The following video discusses gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes brought on by pregnancy. The video’s topics include testing, prevention, treatment and outcomes for mothers with gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes can cause the fetus growing larger than recommended for a vaginal delivery. If this occurs shoulder dystocia, a situation where the child’s shoulder gets stuck in the birth canal, may occur.
When shoulder dystocia occurs the child may suffer damage to a group of nerves called the brachial plexus, a condition commonly referred to as Erb’s palsy.
Additionally, shoulder dystocia may lead to the child suffering from a lack of oxygen which may cause brain damage and cerebral palsy.
It is for these reasons that expecting mothers with gestational diabetes should be monitored closely by their doctors and in many instances offered a c-section to avoid damage to the child.
Below is a great informational video made to spread awareness of brachial plexus injuries and erb’s palsy. The video was made by Cameron’s Smile Brachial Plexus Palsy Support Group.
Brachial Plexus Palsy (BPI) or Erb’s Palsy is an injury sustained to a child during delivery. Most brachial plexus injuries occur when shoulder dystocia is encountered. Shoulder dystocia is caused by the child’s shoulder / shoulders getting stuck in the birth canal.
Often to deliver the child the doctor applies excessive force the child’s head damaging the nerves in the brachial plexus. This results in partial or total paralysis of the child’s hand, elbow and/or shoulder.
For a more detailed discussion of brachial plexus injuries and erb’s palsy including treatment, causes, and risk factors please see my previous posts.
One theory of liability some of the best or top Medical Malpractice Lawyers / attorneys often use when bringing birth injury Lawsuits involving cerebral palsy or Erbs Palsy is failure to perform a TIMLEY C – section. Put simply, this means that the doctor or medical staff did not perform a c- section soon enough to prevent damage or injury to the child or did not perform a c-section when the situation called for one resulting in an injury to the child.
There are several reasons the doctor or medical staff should perform a C- section. The video below discusses several including:
Shoulder dystocia
Signs of fetal distress
Fetal heart rate accelerations or decelerations
Lack of oxygen to child
Placental abruption
Placenta previa
Breech Birth
High Blood Pressure
Diabetes
Additionally, the video discusses the process involved in performing a C – section.
Many of our readers are our also members of our Cerebral Palsy, Erb’s Palsy & Birth Injury Information Group on Facebook. This group is an easy and informal way for parents of children with birth injuries to exchange resources and information.
Additionally, I host a live chat every Thursday at 7:00pm EST/EDT. During our live chat parents are encouraged to ask legal questions regarding medical malpractice and birth injuries.
If you are not yet on Facebook please feel free to e-mail your question to me directly at robert@dioriofirm.com
Here is the link: Facebook Cerebral Palsy, Erb’s Palsy & Birth Injury Information Group
Hope to see you there!!!
The video below discuses gestational diabetes. Diabetes during pregnancy can be dangerous and lead to Erb’s Palsy and/or Cerebral Palsy.
Gestational diabetes can cause the fetus to grow larger than average. Delivering a large child vaginally can put the child at risk of encountering shoulder dystocia.
Shoulder dystocia is a situation where that child’s shoulder becomes stuck in the birth canal.
This can lead to a brachial plexus injury / Erb’s Palsy or limit the child’s oxygen supply thus causing brain damage and cerebral palsy.
This video discusses some potential problems that can arise during pregnancy. Several topics are discussed in the clip and include:
Oligohydramnios – Not enough amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus
Polyhydramnios – too much amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus
Infection – choramnionitis
Preeclampsia - High blood pressure and swelling this can lead to a placental abruption
Eclampsia- seizures
Gestational Diabetes – this can lead to large babies at risk for shoulder dystoca, (the child’s shoulder gets stuck in the birth canal) a dangerous situation that can damage the brachial plexus (Erb’s Palsy) or lead to a lack of oxygen and brain damage to the child.
Placental Previa- placenta covers the cervix
1 in 5 deliveries in the United States is the result of induced labor. The following video explains possible reasons for inducing labor. The video touches on some of the main reasons including:
Infection
Decreasing fetal growth
Preeclampsia
Large gestational age child
Maternal illness
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Long pregnancy – past due date
Water broken for more than 24 hours
Failure to induce labor may result in a medical malpractice lawsuit due to injuries to the child such as Cerebral Palsy or Erb’s Palsy.
Approximately 30 % of children born in the United States are born via c-section. This video explains the process and the reasons a c-section may be necessary. The reasons include:
Previous c-section
Large gestational age (LGA) child – large children risk getting stuck in the birth canal a condition known as shoulder dystocia which can lead to erbs palsy and/or a lack of oxygen and cerebral palsy
Breech Birth or Transverse position – Abnormal position of the child
Umbilical cord prolapse - abnormal position of the umbilical cord increases the risk of lack of oxygen to the fetus by flattening the cord when vaginal delivery is attempted and can lead to cerebral palsy
Placental problems- placental abruption placenta previa
Prolonged labor – labor slows or stops
Fetal distress- child’s heart rate demonstrates signs of distress such as a slow heart rate on the fetal monitoring strips. This can be a sign that the child is not receiving sufficient oxygen to his/her brain and can lead to brain damage
Maternal infections – genital herpes or HIV
High Blood Pressure or Diabetes
Many medical malpractice lawsuits are based on the theory that the doctors failed to recognize the conditions mentioned above or recognized the condition but failed to perform a c-section soon enough to avoid injuries like cerebral palsy and Erbs Palsy.
The following video discusses topics such as:
Breach Birth - abnormal presentation of the fetus
Macrosomic babies - large babies
Shoulder Dystocia – shoulder getting stuck on the mother’s pubic bone. This can lead to erb’s palsy (injury to the brachial plexus) and/or cause the child to be deprived of oxygen leading to cerebral palsy
Umbilical Cord Prolapse – this happens when the umbilical cord precedes the child and exits the uterus first. This can cause a lack of oxygen to the fetus resulting in brain damage and cerebral palsy
Umbilical Cord Wrapped around the child’s neck – this can cause a lack of oxygen to the fetus and result in brain damage and cerebral palsy
The video below explains the medical reasons for having a Cesarean Section (C-Section). Some of the reasons include:
Shoulder dystocia - which can lead to a brachial plexus injury ( Erb’s Palsy)
Lack of oxygen to the child – Which can lead to Cerebral Palsy
Abnormal Heart rate of the child – Leading to brain damage and cerebral palsy
Any other signs of fetal distress.
Breach birth
Health of the mother at risk- i.e. preexisting liver or heart problems
And finally some infections will warrant a C-section
The video below discusses how gestational diabetes can develop in pregnant women. Gestational diabetes can cause a fetus to grow larger than desired for a vaginal delivery (classified as a large gestational age (LGA) child) and may warrant a c-section.
Large children run the risk of getting their shoulders caught in the birth canal a condition known as shoulder dystocia. If shoulder dystocia is not managed properly the child may develop nerve damage to the brachial plexus and develop a condition known as erb’s palsy or suffer from lack of oxygen and cerebral palsy or both.
Often, doctors will recommend that mothers with gestational diabetes and LGA children deliver the child via c-section to avoid the risk of shoulder dystocia.
The following video is an animation of the McRobert’s Maneuver for Shoulder Dystocia. Shoulder Dyscovia can lead to Erb’s Palsy or Brachial Plexus Palsy.
The McRobert’s Maneuver is performed by pushing the mother’s legs upwards in an attempt to expand the pelvic outlet.
In addition, to a partial mod quad for her Erb's Palsy Dr. Nath injected Kinsley Morrow, not yet two years old with Botox to release her triceps. The use of Botox in this instance was experimental according to Kinsley’s local news paper The Item in South Carolina because of the severity of the injury.
According to the little girl’s mother the injections are definitely working but are very expensive. To date the family has spent in excess of $ 60,000 after insurance paid its share. The family is having difficulty continuing Kinsley’s treatment. According to The Item Kinsley’s mother stated that “We need help just to pay expenses,” and “Anything would be a big help.”
If you would like to make a donation to Kinsley and her family First Citizens Bank has set up an account in the name of “Kinsley Morrow in care of Kristy Kirkland.”
For More information click here
The narrator of the video below is describing the anatomy of the brachial plexus. The video explains what nerves affect different portions of the arm, hand, elbow and shoulder.
Children's Hospital’s Dr. Gregory Borschel, recently performed a nerve transfer on the brachial plexus of a child. A nerve transfer has been around for several years; however it was not performed on children until recently.
Prior to the nerve transfer, surgeons typically performed what is called a nerve graft on children with brachial plexus injuries. A nerve graft takes healthy nerves from elsewhere in the body and grafts them around the damaged nerves. This procedure has several downsides including leaving a “numb spot” in the location where the nerves were taken for the graft.
The nerve transfer, a six hour microsurgery, involves cutting the crushed nerves that send messages to the arm, hand and shoulder and reconnecting them to an undamaged or healthy, redundant nerve.
Washington University School of Medicine's chief of the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery Dr. Susan Mackinnon called the results “spectacular.”
The United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc (UPBN) recently announced the annual Brachial Plexus Injury Awareness Week (October 19 thru 26). The purpose of Brachial Plexus Injury Awareness is to promote public awareness of Brachial Plexus injuries, sometimes called Erb’s Palsy, to infants during childbirth. For those of you unfamiliar with brachial plexus injuries, they are injuries to nerves that affect the hand, shoulder, and/or elbow often leaving one or both arms with some degree of paralysis.
To promote awareness of the injury, below please find several risk factors for Erb’s palsy.
If you are an expecting Mom or your child has erbs palsy please read this, erbs palsy can most likely be prevented if you and/or your doctor are aware of the risk factors.
Erb’s Palsy is caused by a number of factors throughout the pregnancy, labor and/or delivery. During the prenatal period risk factors may be present that should indicate to your doctor that a cesarean section (C-section) is necessary due to the risk of shoulder dystocia (the child’s shoulder getting stuck on the mothers pubic bone). These risk factors include but are not limited to: history of gestational diabetes, maternal weight gain of 35 pounds or more, prior shoulder dystocia, birth weight over 8 lbs. 14 oz., unusually formed pelvis and/or short or small stature of the mother.
Additionally a prolonged second stage of labor may indicate the need for a c-section even if none of the risk factors above were present.
Finally, erb’s palsy may be a result of you doctor not properly handling shoulder dystocia during delivery. Here, there may have been no indications of the risk of your child experiencing shoulder dystocia, however, once encountered the doctor may not have performed the necessary procedures. These procedures often include but are not limited to an episiotomy followed by the McRoberts maneuver, Woods maneuver and/or suprapubic pressure.
Please feel to call or e-mail me if you have any questions regarding your childs injury.
(888) 456-4658 (ask for me, Robert, directly)
This is an inspirational video of Paul Fejtek who has erbs or brachial plexus palsy and his mission to climb the largest mountains on each of the seven continents to raise awareness for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF).
This is a great video about Erb’s Palsy. It includes, Facts about the brachial plexus, treatment for erbs palsy, risk factors for shoulder dystocia, surgical treatments for brachial plexus palsy, the outcome of surgery and the nerves involves in the brachial plexus.
For more information on erbs palsy please visit our website and as always, please feel free to call anytime.
Cornerback Ryan Perry was recently awarded a scholarship to the University of Hawaii. Perry, a fifth year senior has a cumulative GPA of 3.7. At the age of seven Ryan, then a soccer player underwent surgery to correct an injury he sustained at birth ( Erb’s Palsy ) and soon after took up football. Great work and best of luck on the season!!!
Lack of prenatal care can lead to devastating results to a child such as cerebral palsy, erb’s palsy, spina bifida or even death. Often these conditions can be avoided with proper prenatal care. Tonights 20/20 will focus on a grassroots campaign to save these children. Although, the doctors treating these children are doing a great service one has to think; wouldn’t it have been so much easier (for everyone) to treat the mothers (that they are able to treat) properly to begin with and avoid this devastating situation?
I would like to invite anyone that is interested to visit/join our Cerebral Palsy, Erb’s Palsy & Birth Injury Information Groups where you will find valuable resources on both the legal aspects of birth injuries and the latest news and treatments.
It is my hope that the groups will be an easy and informal way for those affected by a birth injury and their families to get the information they need.
Also, I will be hosting a Live Chat every Thursday at 7:00pm EST on the group websites where you are encouraged to ask questions regarding birth injuries.
The Groups are currently on Facebook, Myspace and Yahoo Groups. Also, Please feel free to simply e-mail your question directly to me at robert@dioriofirm.com and I will reply to your e-mail address.
Here are the links:
I hope to see you there,
Robert
The following is a paragraph provided by Karyn Halmstad at Goodwill.
It sounds like a great program.
Goodwill On the Move is a weekend recreation program for persons with disabilities who want to put a little more ‘kick’ in their weekends. We offer three different types of leisure opportunities (called tracks) for people to choose from:
• Full Day Outings, which consist of 6 to 8 hour activities like sporting events, festivals, museums and tours. Full Day Outings are active and require independence with personal care.
• Half Day Outings, which consist of 3 to 4 hour activities like plays, smaller festivals and museums and seated tours. Half Day Outings are slower paced and appropriate for participants who need some help with personal care.
• Workshops, which consist of art, music and movement activities. Workshops are the slowest paced and appropriate for participants who need some help with personal care.
For more information, including setting up a visit or getting more information on programs, please call Karyn Halmstad, Goodwill On the Move coordinator, at (262) 970-6042 or e-mail at onthemove@goodwillsew.com . You can also find more information, including application forms and the current calendar of events, at www.goodwillsew.com.
Selecting the right attorney for a child with Erbs palsy may seem like a daunting task at times. So I put together some questions to help.
If you would like further assistance, I am more then happy to recommend an attorney that specializes in birth injury cases in your area, so please don’t hesitate to call me directly at (202) 243-0581 or 1 (888) 456-4658 or send me an e-mail at robert@dioriofirm.com (please include your name, phone number, child’s date of birth, State where your child was born and State where you are currently residing)
Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you,
Robert
1. Is the attorney familiar with the many medical and legal complexities of erbs palsy?
2. Has the lawyer/attorney successfully handled cases involving erbs palsy in the past?
3. If so, what percentage of the lawyer’s practice is dedicated to representing individuals with erbs palsy?
4. Is the lawyer associated with any reputable law associations such as, ATLA/AAJ, Birth Trauma Legal Associations, etc?
5. Does the lawyer represent plaintiffs (injured party) or defendants (negligent party)?
6. What are the fees? Does the lawyer work on a Contingency fee basis?
7. Who pays the cost of expenses such as medical expert testimony?
8. Is there a charge for a legal fee if there is no recovery?
9. Who will be responsible for expenses if there is no recovery?
10. Will the lawyer explain the legal process and all aspects of your case to you?
NOTE: The Law Offices Of Robert A. D’Iorio, PLLC handles cases NATIONWIDE with the assistance of co-counsel where permitted.
The results of a long-term study focusing on the outcome of infants that suffered a brachial plexus injury (bpi) or erbs palsy at birth were published in the January 2007 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
The study followed up on children that underwent surgery for a bpi (mean of 13.3 years after surgery). The researchers studied 1706 children with brachial plexus injuries sustained at birth that required medical intervention between 1971 and 1997. Of these patients, 124 (7.3%) underwent surgery on the brachial plexus at a mean age of 2.8 months (range, 0.4 to 13.2 months). The most commonly performed surgical procedure was direct neurorrhaphy after neuroma resection.
The researchers found that approximately one-third of the patients, including all nine with a clavicular nonunion from the surgical approach, experienced pain in the affected limb. Additionally, all except for four patients used the hand of the unaffected arm as the dominant hand. Shoulder function was moderate, with a mean Mallet score of 3.0. Both elbow and hand function were good, with a mean score on the Gilbert elbow scale of 3 and a mean Raimondi hand score of 4. Incongruence of the glenohumeral joint was noted in sixteen (16%) of the ninety-nine patients in whom it was assessed, and incongruence of the radiohumeral joint was noted in twenty-one (21%). The extent of the brachial plexus injury was found to be strongly associated with the final shoulder, elbow, and hand function in a multivariate analysis.
Furthermore, a significant number of the patients continued to need help performing activities of daily living and had pain in the affected arm, with the pain due to a clavicular nonunion in one-fourth of the patients.
As a side note, I want to say that although this study appears to be harsh, erb’s palsy can present in wide spectrum of severity. That being said, these results seemed to me, to be preformed on the more severe cases of erb’s palsy. Finally, the most determinant prognostic factor predicting the outcome of children affected by a bpi appears to be the extent of the primary injury.
This is a medical animation of a vaginal delivery with the occurrence of shoulder dystocia which may lead to Erb’s palsy.
When shoulder dystocia is encountered the doctor should perform several procedures (such as the McRoberts Maneuver, Woods Maneuver etc.) to dislodge the shoulder. This will avoid or mitigate damage to the brachial plexus (an arrangement of nerve fibers running from the spine (C5-T1), through the neck, the axilla, and into the arm).
When a child gets diagnosed with cerebral palsy or erb’s palsy the question of where to go for the best treatment soon follows. Below is a list of the top pediatric hospitals compiled by U.S. News & World Report.
America's Best Children's Hospitals, 2007 Edition
Published by U.S.News & World Report
1. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2. Children's Hospital Boston
3. Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore
4. Children's Hospital, Denver
5. Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland
6. Texas Children's Hospital, Houston
7. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
8. New York-Presbyterian Univ. Hosp. of Columbia and Cornell
9. Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle
10. Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, Calif.
11. Children's National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
12. Columbus Children's Hospital
13. Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
14. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
15. St. Louis Children's Hospital
16. UCSF Children's Hospital, San Francisco
17. Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
18. Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
19. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.
20. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis
21. Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, Los Angeles
22. University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor
23. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville
24. Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, N.Y.
25. Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago
26. Miami Children's Hospital
27. Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis
28. Children's Medical Center Dallas
29. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
30. Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
After deliberating for less then an hour a Virginia Beach Circuit Court jury returned a verdict of just under $2 million against a physician at Chesapeake General Hospital. The plaintiff alleged that the obstetrician mismanaged the baby's shoulder dystocia by applying excessive traction to the baby's head resulting in Erb's palsy. The child suffered serious injuries including avulsion of nerve roots at one level and ruptured nerve roots at multiple other levels.
This touching video was made by Allison Steigerwalt - Mom to Bradley. The message she wants to convey is that “this injury CAN be prevented” with proper medical care. Although treatment, including surgery can mitigate the damage caused by shoulder dystocia, often, Erb’s palsy is a life long condition. This injury can be prevented through education, so please share your knowledge of shoulder dystocia and Erb’s palsy with expecting mothers to ensure they discuss the potential risk factors with their doctors, as the doctors often overlook them which leads to the injury.
The New England Journal of Medicine recently published an article entitled Cesarean Delivery and the Risk–Benefit Calculus by Jeffrey L. Ecker, M.D., and Fredric D. Frigoletto, Jr., M.D. This article explains several reasons for an increase of cesarean deliveries over the past several years.
The article states that from 1937 to 2005 there has been an increase in c- sections of 1000% (10 times), in fact, as of 2005 nearly 30% of all deliveries are by C-section. If this trend continues many potential birth injuries such as, cerebral palsy and erb's palsy will be avoided. I believe the increase is due to three factors.
The first factor is the advance in medical treatment for the mother. In 1937, 6% of patients died after cesarean delivery, this has decreased by a factor of nearly 1000 due to modern antibiotics, anesthetic techniques, blood banks, and critical care units. As the risk decreases for the mother more doctors and mothers are willing to deliver via c-section.
Next, the advances of prenatal care and prenatal technology such as ultrasound and fetal heart monitoring have lead to an increase in cesarean deliveries. With new technology doctors are better equipped to determine if the fetus is in distress, may become distressed or may have difficulty progressing in a vaginal birth, thus, avoiding many birth injuries such as Erb’s Palsy and hypoxia which leads to Cerebral Palsy.
Finally, as medical treatment advances women that would not have otherwise been able to conceive are getting pregnant, and at advanced ages.
“…there has been a 3.8-year increase since 1970 in the mean age at first delivery, and since 1990, births to women 35 to 39 years of age and 40 to 44 years of age have increased by 43% and 62%, respectively. In addition, the number of premature and low-birth-weight neonates has increased, in part as a function of the increasing number of multiple gestations (121,246 in 2001 vs. 68,339 in 1980), many of which have resulted, in turn, from the use of assisted reproductive technology — assistance necessitated in many cases by advancing maternal age.”
I believe as technology increases so too will the rate of cesarean deliveries.
Jayne Matthews of the Baltimore Times recently wrote a heart warming story describing how The Parents’ Place of Maryland (a group comprised exclusively of parents of a child with a learning or developmental disability) began and how the effort continues. In her latest article Matthews describes some of the emotions parents of disabled children go through and the amazing efforts made by The Parents’ Place of Maryland to assist the parents and children.
Matthews discusses how, unfortunately, parents of disabled children often feel isolated by feelings of “distress of a bleak prognosis” coupled with “anxiety over the future (how will my child survive a lifetime of limitations?)” and “guilt of the past (did I do something to cause this?)” and a “sense of anger (why is this happening to my family?).”
Matthews further explains how The Parents’ Place of Maryland, Josie Thomas, Kim McKay, Kelly Meissner and so many others have helped over 45,000 families since its inception in 1990.
For the full article click Here.
The resources are offered to the children and parents of children with disabilities throughout Maryland, regardless of the nature of their child's disability or the age of their child. They include conducting regular parent education courses and workshops, helping parents find information, providing referrals to other individuals or organizations, working with parents directly to help them obtain the best possible services for their children, maintaining an up-to-date list of support groups for parents in Maryland and publishing a quarterly newsletter for everyone interested in childrens' needs
This is a great organization and I applaud their effort.
Here is their contact info:
Parents' Place of Maryland
801 Cromwell Park Drive, Suite 103,
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
Telephone (voice or TDD): (410) 768-9100
FAX: (410) 768-0830
Email: info@ppmd.org
http://www.ppmd.org/index.asp
Erbs or Brachial Plexus Palsy has an occurrence rate in the USA of approximately 3 live births per 1,000. This condition is most commonly caused at birth by an injury to a network of inter-joining nerves in the head, neck, and shoulders. Erbs Palsy often occurs in larger children (due to their difficulty passing the mother's pubic bone) when excessive pressure is put on a child's head, neck, or shoulder during delivery.
Symptoms of Erbs or Brachial Plexus Palsy include: complete or partial paralysis or limpness in a child's arm, limited or no movement in a hand and/or fingers, or loss of feeling in the hands and/or fingers.
Treatment exists for children with these conditions and includes immobilization of the arm, physical therapy and in the more severe cases, surgery.
Please visit our website for a more information regarding Erb’s Palsy including:
Types of Medical Malpractice Cases
