Glossary of Terms Related to Birth Injuries

Often doctors and birth injury lawyers use words which are common in their profession and yet can be difficult for people unfamiliar with birth injuries to understand. Andrew E. Greenwald has developed a list of medical terms commonly used birth trauma claims. The following are a few of these words commonly used in association with obstetrical malpractice cases along with brief description.

Birth Asphyxia - is the term used when a baby's oxygen supply or blood supply is cut off or restricted. A lack of oxygen can result in severe brain damage or death if the problem is not corrected quickly.

Brachial Plexus - is the term used when a group of nerves, the brachial plexus nerves, leading from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arms, and wrist are damaged and the baby's arm is paralyzed from the shoulder down. These nerves can be damaged due to excessive stretching during birth, causing Erb's palsy.

Brain Damage - is a general term used to describe a variety of injuries that affect baby's brains. Brain damage can be caused by numerous complications during pregnancy and birth including lack of oxygen to the brain, which can lead to cerebral palsy and a many other complications in newborns.

Brain Hemorrhage - is a type of stroke that occurs when brain cells are killed or damaged by bleeding into the brain cells.

Cerebral Palsy - is a term used to describe a large group of chronic disorders that limit a baby's motor control. The term cerebral refers to the brain's two halves and palsy is a term that describes any disorder that affects motor control. Thus the damage affects brain's ability to adequately control movement and posture. Generally, cerebral palsy does not worsen over time.

Cesarean Section - is a term used when a baby is removed through a surgical incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus rather than emerging vaginally through the birth canal.

Erb's Palsy - is used to describe the paralyses to the arm. One of the common signs of Erb's Palsy is an unbent elbow and a hand turned to a backwards position.

Fetal Distress - is a term generally used to describe hypoxia, or lack of oxygen. Hypoxia can result in damage or death if not reversed or the fetus delivered immediately. The signs of fetal distress include a slow heartbeat and the absence of fetal movement.

Intracranial Hemorrhage - see Stroke

Meconium - is a term used to refer to a baby's first feces, which generally occurs after birth. However when it occurs prior to birth can cause Meconium Aspiration Syndrome or MAS.

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS) - is a term used when a newborn inhales a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid during labor and delivery. The inhaled meconium can partially or complete blockage of the baby's airways.

Misoprostol - is a prostaglandin product that is applied to the cervix to induce labour. Misoprostol can dangerous for VBAC candidates as the risk of uterine rupture is increased, compared with spontaneous labour.

Oxytocin - is a natural hormone that is secreted by the pituitary gland. During labor and child birth oxytocin levels control the contractions of the uterus. Synthetic oxytocin is often used to induce labour.

Perinatal Asphyxia - is a term used to describe a shortage of oxygen in the blood or reduced blood flow brain to the brain during labor and delivery.

Pitocin - is a medication that is used to start or improve uterine contractions. It is also used to induce uterine contractions when the mother's or baby's medical condition prevents the natural onset of labor. Pitocin is sometimes used to control bleeding. Some of the risks of Pitocin include rupture of the uterus, water intoxication, increased discomfort, and fetal stress.

Placenta Previa - is a term used when the placenta implants over or near the cervix. The placenta may completely or partially cover the cervix. Placenta previa is not uncommon and occurs in about 1 in 200 deliveries. Placenta previa is more common in women who have had more than one pregnancy or have abnormalities of the uterus.

Preeclampsia - refers to condition that generally occurs in the second half of pregnancy. Symptoms include increased blood pressure and protein in the mother's urine. Preeclampsia affects the placenta, and it can affect the mother's kidney, liver, and brain. Preeclampsia is a leading cause of fetal complications, which include low birth weight, premature birth, and stillbirth. Preeclampsia can cause seizures, a condition known as eclampsia. Eclampsia condition is the second leading cause of maternal death in the United States.

Shoulder dystocia - is used to describe a condition in which the baby's shoulder is caught behind the mother's pelvic bone. Shoulder dystocia can cause a shortage of oxygen to the infant's brain and can lead to Erb's palsy, a paralysis or weakness of the arm.

Stroke - is a tem commonly used to describe bleeding into the brain. Intracranial breeding can have several causes including broken blood vessels in the brain, clogged blood vessels, or abnormal blood cells. Strokes can occur in the fetus during pregnancy and in newborn around the time of birth, damaging brain tissue and causing neurological problems. Respiratory distress common in premature infants is one common cause of strokes newborn.

Torticollis - describes a condition where a baby faces toward his strong side and is unable to face forward for any length of time.

Toxicimia - is a term used to describe Toxic blood poisoning, also sometimes refers to toxemia of pregnancy. This condition usually occurs during the latter stages of pregnancy. The symptoms include high blood pressure, the appearance of protein in the urine, and edema. This condition is often associated with preeclampsia.

Uterine Rupture - is a term used to describe a range of uterine damage, from a slightly damaged tissue in the uterine wall or a small tear to catastrophic tear in the uterus in which the baby and placenta are pushed into the mother's abdomen.

Vacuum and Forceps Injuries - injuries occur when vacuums and forceps are used to assist in the delivery of a baby. Improperly used vacuums and forceps can result is a variety of serious injuries including lacerations to the baby's scalp, cephalhematomas or the collections of blood under the scalp, and intracranial hemorrhages that can be live threatening.

Vaginal Birth - is the term used to describe what happens when a baby is delivered vaginally through the birth canal.

VBAC Injury - Vaginal Birth after Cesarean. The most common injury associated with VBAC deliveries is uterine rupture. While more VBAC deliveries are offering it is still a controversial procedure.