In September 2009 when an expectant mother went into labor, neither she nor her husband knew very much about vacuum extraction devices sometimes used during difficult labor. The labor went on for hours as the mother continued to push, at some point the doctor determined that the labor was not
Infants who are born prior to 37 weeks of gestation are considered premature. More than one-half million infants are born prematurely in the United States each year, according to an article in The Nation’s Health journal. Pre-term birth is the number one cause of death for newborn infants and can
If you look at the label on almost any medication, you will see instructions for pregnant to consult with their doctor or health care professional prior to using. Many of us are aware of a handful of drugs that can result in serious injuries for newborn infants. Recently the FDA
While doctors in delivery rooms have to rely upon their instincts, overconfidence can sometimes blind them to potential risks inherent in their practices. This overconfidence may also foster an environment where junior medical personnel do not feel empowered to speak up when they think there is a potential danger of
A recent study indicates that prenatal surgery to address a form of spina bifida results in better outcomes for the infant compared to postnatal surgery. However the study also indicated that the prenatal surgery was not effective in all cases and that it carried increased risk of other complications including
Approximately 50,000 people worldwide are blind because they were born prematurely before their eyes had fully developed. This condition known as “retinopathy of prematurity” (ROP) is the cause of singer Stevie Wonder’s blindness. A new U.S. study shows that the cancer drug Avastin could help save the eyesight of many
A recent study finds that having a person present with the mother to provide continuous support resulted in shorter labors, fewer interventions and an overall increase in the mother’s satisfaction with the birthing process. The study was a review of twenty-one clinical trials by the Cochrane Collaboration which compared outcomes
Terbutaline is a popular treatment used by doctors in an attempt to help pregnant women carry a pregnancy to full term. But the Food and Drug Administration is now requiring that the drug carry a “black box warning” indicating that the drug carries a serious risk of serious or life
A new study has found that women who have high blood pressure during pregnancy have an increased instance of strokes in the time period following the birth, according to a report from Reuters. The reported instance of strokes in these women was even higher when the birth was premature. While
An Ohio woman has filed a lawsuit against a Cleveland hospital and two doctors alleging medical malpractice related to a 2003 surgery on her infant son. The mother claims that the surgery resulted in severe brain damage and the premature death of her child. The infant had an abnormal vein located