Cerebral palsy and epilepsy are more common than you might think. As of 2015, about 470,000 children had epilepsy in the United States. Meanwhile, cerebral palsy—the most common motor disability in childhood—affects an estimated 1 out of every 323 children. What’s more, many children with cerebral palsy also suffer from epileptic seizures. So, does that... Read More

As you approach your due date, you’re likely focused on preparing as much as possible to ensure a safe and healthy delivery. That’s why it’s so important to plan ahead for the small chance that something goes wrong. One possible complication is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a birth injury that occurs in 1.5 out of every 1,000... Read More

Anoxia occurs when the body or brain loses its oxygen supply. In the context of childbirth, when oxygen deprivation takes place, it can contribute to a form of brain damage caused by oxygen loss known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). HIE can result in cognitive and motor deficiencies that may impair a child’s development and contribute... Read More

While strokes are typically associated with adults, they can also occur in children, including infants before and after birth. Pediatric stroke affects 25 in 100,000 newborns. Children who have experienced a perinatal stroke may be at risk of developing cerebral palsy. What Is a Perinatal Stroke? According to the American Heart Association, perinatal strokes include... Read More

An estimated one in three women gives birth via cesarean section in the United States alone. While this method of birth is certainly common, it doesn’t come without risks. Understanding these risks and the effect a C-section can have on both you and your child is an important part of preparing for your labor and... Read More

Children develop cerebral palsy when their cerebral motor cortex development is impaired or when it is damaged. Various conditions and injuries can trigger abnormal development or damage developing brains. These problems can occur before birth, during birth, and in the first few years of a child’s life, when the young brain is developing. These issues... Read More

Some birth deliveries don’t go as planned and require other measures be taken to ensure the mother and baby are safe and healthy throughout the entire birthing experience. One of these measures is a vacuum-assisted delivery. While rare, this type of procedure can cause harm to the baby, with one of the potential risks being... Read More

Labor and delivery complications can have a long-term impact on the lives of both the child and mother. Many complications can impact the infant’s ability to obtain oxygen in the womb, depriving the brain of adequate oxygen supplies and possibly damaging it. If brain damage occurs during labor and delivery, it can cause long-term impairments... Read More

A nuchal cord is an umbilical cord wrapped around a baby’s neck. Umbilical cords connect a fetus with the mother and can be wrapped around a baby’s neck once, or even more than once. A body cord occurs when the umbilical cord is wrapped around a baby’s shoulder or abdomen. About 1 in 4 deliveries... Read More

A fetus has both a position and presentation while in the womb. The position is the direction a fetus is facing relative to the mother’s spine. The presentation is how an infant’s body leads, or is anticipated to lead out of the birth canal. An abnormal fetal position or presentation can lead to birth injuries... Read More