Is Fetal Weight a Predictor of Birth Injury?
by
David Zevan on Apr. 01, 2015
Employment Workers' Compensation Accident & Injury Accident & Injury Personal Injury
Summary: Studies have shown that in the United States 7 out of 1,000 children born suffer from some form of birth injury.
Studies have shown that in the United States 7 out of 1,000 children born suffer from some form of birth injury.
Birth injuries may result from complications during pregnancy, illness, or negligence of the obstetrician and assistants during labor and delivery. Most birth injuries are unpredictable; however, one factor which has been the most common is birth weight.
How the Mother's Weight May Affect The Baby's Birth Weight
The birth weight of a child may be influenced by the mother’s weight. Babies born to mothers who are obese or those with a BMI of 40 and above are more likely to sustain a birth injury. This is caused by a lack of proper nutrition to the fetus as obese mothers may not get proper nutrition and vitamins required for a strong and healthy baby. Obese mothers are also more likely to have induced labor and the need for the use of forceps or vacuum extraction which increases the risk of birth injuries.
Complications Causing Birth Injuries
Complications during pregnancy, such as hypertension and fetal distress, generally result in a higher incidence of cesarean section birth in obese mothers. Increase in BMI by one unit increases the chances of cesarean section by 7 percent. Maternal obesity is also linked to congenital abnormalities and a higher infant mortality rate. Studies have shown that for obese mothers, 37.5 percent of babies born suffer from some congenital defect and the risk of infant mortality is 2.5 times higher than babies born to healthy weight mothers.
The location of fat deposits on the mother also influences the size of the fetus. Mothers who have put on excessive weight around the abdomen have a higher chance of delivering large-for-gestational-age infants. These babies have higher weight, height, and head circumference and thus are more prone to birth injuries like shoulder dystocia, which is a leading cause of Erb’s palsy.
Infants Susceptible to Birth Injuries
Heavier infants are not born to obese women only; healthy weight women can also give birth to heavier infants. Research has found that birth injuries increase exponentially with birth weight higher than 8 pounds. An infant with birth weight of 8 pounds or more is 7.7 times more susceptible to birth injuries than an average weight infant. Heavier infants are generally delivered through a cesarean section to reduce the risk of brachial plexus injuries or clavicle fractures.
The weight of the mother can also work in the inverse in contributing towards birth injuries. Extremely lean mothers and those who are small in stature also have complications in pregnancy and face birthing difficulties like obese mothers. Deliveries in small mothers are generally done through cesarean section to avoid birth injuries like shoulder dystocia.
Birth Injuries and Medical Negligence
If you are pregnant, the first and foremost thing to do is receive prenatal care from a doctor who will advice you on the correct diet and nutrition to be followed. The doctor will also help you in monitoring your vitamin intake and any abnormalities during pregnancy. If your doctor acts negligently and fails to manage your condition causing injury to you or to your newborn, consult a Missouri birth injury lawyer to seek compensation.
