While most births happen without serious issues, there are risks lurking in the delivery room that many parents never know about until something goes wrong. Knowing what those risks are can help parents make informed choices and advocate for a safe delivery. For example, some birth injuries count as medical malpractice.
While that’s not always the case, it’s important for parents to be aware of the signs that indicate this potential. Babies who are injured during birth often grow up with long-term, expensive medical needs. For many parents, a personal injury lawsuit is the only way to recover enough compensation to cover those expenses.
Here’s what every parent needs to know about the risks in the delivery room.
1. Preterm birth and low birth weight
Babies born too early or underweight are at higher risk of developing complications both during and after birth. A preterm birth is defined as a birth before 37 weeks and it’s more common than you may think. For instance, in 2020 alone, there were around 13.4 million babies born prematurely across the world.
Babies born prematurely are also typically underweight, which magnifies the risks. Preterm babies have underdeveloped organs and immune systems and often have trouble regulating temperature and handling the stress of labor. This can lead to breathing issues, hypothermia, and infection.
These babies are far more likely to require resuscitation and suffer from respiratory distress. Their risk of mortality and long-term health problems is significantly higher compared to full-term newborns.
It’s crucial for parents to learn the signs of preterm labor and what preventive measures they can take. They also need to know if the hospital they plan to use is equipped to handle premature babies, just in case.
2. Birth asphyxia
One of the most serious risks in the delivery room is oxygen deprivation (asphyxia) and the need for resuscitative care. Birth asphyxia occurs when a newborn doesn’t get enough oxygen before, during, or right after birth. This can cause organ damage, including brain injury.
While only around 5% or full-term infants require this type of care right after birth, that number is much higher for preterm babies. Parents need to make sure their delivery team has protocols for this situation in place.
3. Infection and sepsis
Infections can happen in even the best quality hospitals, and this is a major threat to newborn health. The infections can come from the mother, the environment, or a caretaker after birth.
Babies with compromised immune systems and those born under emergency delivery are more vulnerable to infection. And unfortunately, infections sometimes lead to sepsis.
It’s crucial for mothers to be screened for Group B Streptococcus and apply antibiotics when indicated. Newborns should be closely monitored for temperature and behavior to reduce the risk and catch issues before they escalate. It’s not unreasonable for parents to request information about infection prevention practices and observe how staff handle sterile tools.
4. Temperature loss
Newborns lose heat fast after birth, and if the situation isn’t managed, it can lead to hypothermia and other complications. At birth, babies are wet and don’t have much fat for insulation. The minute they’re exposed to the cold air, they start losing heat fast.
A newborn should be dried immediately and kept warm. The first bath should be given only when the baby’s temperature has stabilized. Although hospitals generally keep their rooms cold, the delivery room is an exception. To support stabilizing the baby’s temperature, it’s often hospital protocol to keep the delivery room warm.
5. Birth injuries
There are several types of physical injuries that can happen during delivery, even when everything seems routine. Examples include bruising, cephalohematoma, nerve injury, skull fractures, and spinal injuries. Sometimes these injuries are caused by traumatic force during extraction, and improper use of delivery tools like forceps and vacuums.
Some injuries will heal without long-term damage, but others can lead to jaundice, nerve impairment, and mobility issues. Sometimes surgery is required and in some cases birth injuries lead to lifelong impairment.
What you can do to minimize risks
Delivery room risks are real, but many are preventable. As a parent, you can minimize risk by asking the right questions ahead of time, visiting the hospital to observe, and asking about protocols. For example, ask the hospital what their resuscitation policies are, how they prevent infection, and what they do to control temperature and manage assisted births.
Asking questions to get clear on protocols and competence will help you choose a hospital that will give your newborn a safer start in life.
