Prenatal Problems

Birth injuries are not always the result of trauma or complications during labor and delivery. A large percentage of birth injuries are actually a direct result of prenatal problems or complications arising during pregnancy. When prenatal conditions are not properly diagnosed and effectively managed they can and frequently do lead to birth injuries.

ABOUT PRENATAL CARE

Prenatal Care and Birth Injuries

Learn about the relationship between effective prenatal medical care and many major birth injuries.

Basics of Prenatal Care

Outline of the basic components of good prenatal medical care throughout pregnancy.

Prenatal Testing

You can start getting prenatal care as soon as you know you are pregnant, or even before you become pregnant.

Pregnancy Stages

Learn about the stages of pregnancy and the particular risks of complications during each phase.

PRENATAL PROBLEMS and COMPLICATIONS

Fetal Macrosomia

When a baby grows overly large in the womb. Macrosomia can make vaginal delivery dangerous and timely diagnosis of the condition is critical.

Maternal Infections

If not diagnosed and treated, infections during pregnancy can potentially be dangerous to the baby and cause serious birth injuries.

Preeclampsia

A condition involving sudden onset of maternal hypertension and swelling at towards the end of pregnancy that often requires premature delivery.

Placental Abruption

A rare but very dangerous event in which the placenta suddenly tears away from the uterus wall prior to labor and delivery.

Placenta Accreta

An uncommon abnormality in which the placenta attaches too deeply into the uterine wall potentially compromising.

Placenta Previa

Occurs when the placenta is located abnormally in the womb and either partially or totally blocks the cervix and birth canal entrance.

Polyhydramnios

A condition resulting from too much amniotic fluid in the womb during pregnancy which can lead to a number of dangerous complications.

Oligohydramnios

Occurs when there is not enough amniotic fluid in the womb during pregnancy increasing the risk for various complications.

Chorioamnionitis

The most dangerous type of maternal infection in which bacteria migrates up the birth canal and infects the fetal membranes or amniotic fluid.

Cervical Incompetency

Where the mother’s cervix prematurely softens and begins to dilate during pregnancy creating a risk of premature delivery.

IUGR

Intrauterine Growth Restriction occurs when the fetus is growing too slow during pregnancy.

Placental Insufficiency

Damaged or improperly formed placenta which is not able to delivery proper nutrients and oxygen.

Rh Factor Incompatibility

A condition in which the mother and baby have incompatible blood types triggering a potentially dangerous reaction from the mother’s immune system.

HELLP Syndrome

An uncommon condition related to abnormal maternal liver functioning and red blood cell breakdown creating an unhealthy gestational environment.

Premature Birth

Prematurity (any birth occurring before the 37th week of gestation) greatly increases a baby’s risk for a number of perinatal and neonatal problems.

Fertility Treatments

Pregnancies facilitated by fertility treatments have a higher rate of complications and birth injuries due to a number of factors.

Abnormal Cord Insertion

Occurs when the umbilical cord does not properly attach to the placenta while it is forming.

Bacterial Vaginosis

A common and typically harmless vaginal infection that is treated with antibiotics.

Blighted Ovum

A type of miscarriage that happens early in pregnancy when the fertilized egg, or ovum, is missing chromosomes.

Blood Clots and Pregnancy

If left untreated, blots clots can cause serious problems, such as a blocked artery in the lungs.

Ectopic Pregnancy

An nonviable pregnancy that occurs when a fertilized egg attaches to the Fallopian tubes or another location outside of the uterus.

Listeria and Pregnancy

Pregnant women have an increased likelihood of contracting listeriosis, a food borne bacterial infection.

Thyroid Problems

The thyroid is a gland that makes hormones and regulates metabolism, muscle control, brain development, and other processes in the body.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a disorder in which the thyroid produces excess hormone that can cause complications for mothers and babies

Vasa Previa

A dangerous pregnancy complication in which umbilical cord blood vessels are in a position that puts them at risk of rupturing during labor and delivery.

Yeast Infections

An infection familiar to all women which becomes more common during pregnancy.

Maternal Death

Tragically, medical complications during pregnancy can result in a mother’s death when not diagnosed and treated.

Maternal Infections

Infections in an expecting mother can spread to the fetus. Antibiotics, however, get rid of most infections.

Obesity and Pregnancy

Being overweight or obese while pregnant is common, but should be taken seriously to prevent problems for the mother and fetus.

Gestational Diabetes

A type of temporary diabetes that often occurs in pregnant women due to hormonal changes in their body.

Marginal Umbilical Cord Insertion

Marginal cord insertion is an abnormal attachment of the umbilical cord to the placenta that can lead to various complications during pregnancy.

Birth Injury