Compound presentation occurs when the part of the fetus closest to the birth canal (usually the head) presents with an extremity next to it (usually hand or arm) (1). This condition is extremely rare; it’s estimated to affect less than 0.004% of pregnancies. What causes compound presentation? Compound presentation can occur as a result of...
Cerebral palsy (CP) exists in a variety of different forms, and its symptoms vary significantly from person to person. Some people with severe CP use a wheelchair to help them get around, while people with mild CP might use a walker or crutches. All people with CP experience some sort of movement or posture impairment,...
If amniotic fluid begins leaking during pregnancy, it may increase the baby’s risk of experiencing a birth injury. Sometimes, it may be difficult to determine if a pregnant person is leaking amniotic fluid or another substance, such as urine or vaginal discharge. Consult a doctor if there is any uncertainty. What is amniotic fluid? During...
Every new parent experiences a flood of new emotions on delivery day. While these feelings often include a blend of excitement, nerves, and joy, delivery day is almost always a day of celebration. However, learning your baby is headed to the NICU upon delivery is incredibly tough for new parents. Throughout this page, we will...
When a newborn baby begins to have seizures, parents wonder what is causing the seizures, how neonatal seizures are treated, if seizures mean the baby has a brain injury, and if the baby will have lifelong problems. Parents also want to know if the medical team did something wrong during or near the time of birth that caused the baby to have a brain injury, resulting in seizures....
When a baby requires care after birth, they will be transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or the NICU. A baby may require a NICU stay if they were born prematurely, had problems during delivery, or experienced complications after birth. The cost of a NICU stay depends on a number of factors including duration,...
Children who have cerebral palsy have very important nutritional issues. In this article, we discuss strategies that parents can use to help their children get adequate nutrition....
A low Apgar score at birth is strongly associated with cerebral palsy in childhood....