Articles Posted in Birth Injuries

To ensure that one day all babies are born healthy, and without birth injuries or birth defects, last Sunday the Central New York Chapter of the March of Dimes held its annual “March For Babies” walk at Onondaga Lake Park, in Syracuse, New York. Hundreds of Syracuse and Central New York mothers, fathers and residents came out to support the cause. A recent report card issued by the March of Dimes gave New York State a “D.”

Almost all of every dollar donated to the March of Dimes goes toward research into a newborn’s brain, eyes, smile, heart, spine, lungs and heels, in order to combat conditions such as immature brain development, vision defects, oral clefts, spina bifida and infant respiratory distress syndrome.
Continue reading →

According to a recent study published by Pediatrics, early treatment with magnesium can limit nerve damage in babies born with low oxygen levels. A low oxygen level at birth is known as perinatal asphyxia.

Perinatal asphyxia, which can be due to natural forces or medical malpractice, occurs when an unborn baby is deprived of oxygen for a sufficient period of time to cause brain damage, and conditions such as cerebral palsy. When an unborn baby’s brain does not receive enough oxygen, the asphyxia causes an increase in the amino acid glutamate in the brain, which causes nerve damage by allowing calcium to pass into cells. Prompt administration of magnesium to a newborn suffering from a birth injury such as asphyxia can close the passageways and limit the extent of brain damage.

Syracuse-area hospitals, such as Crouse Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, SUNY Upstate Medical University and Community General Hospital, may begin using magnesium after further study.
Continue reading →