Birth Injury

Facial Nerve Palsy (Bell's Palsy) can occur when the seventh cranial nerve is damaged. This nerve controls facial movements in a newborn baby. In the most severe cases, the entire side of a baby's face is affected, preventing them from opening or closing their eyelid or sharing any facial expressions. However, in most cases, this condition only affects the mouth and surrounding muscles. In many...

One uncommon but known condition that can occur after a baby is born is postpartum hemorrhage. When it happens, a woman has more bleeding than normal — usually about half a quart (500 ml) during vaginal birth or one quart (1,000 ml) after a cesarean birth. Stanford Children’s Health estimates that about 1 to 5 in 100 women experience postpartum hemorrhage, and that it is...

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which elevated blood sugar (glucose) levels develop during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after pregnancy. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), nearly 10 percent of pregnancies in the U.S. are affected by gestational diabetes each year. If timely diagnosed and properly managed, a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes, should have a good outcome for both the mother and...

Getting regular prenatal care from a team of trusted obstetrical professionals is essential for a healthy pregnancy. A healthy pregnancy usually results in a healthy baby. During prenatal care, your obstetrician or midwife will recommend and perform testing on both you and your baby. Known as antenatal testing, or prenatal testing, these checkups, screenings, and procedures are designed to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy...

The weeks and months leading up to the birth of a baby are full of joy and anticipation. Parents-to-be must be informed by their obstetrician of potential conditions and complications that can occur throughout the course of a pregnancy. One such condition is preeclampsia. As with many other medical conditions, the sooner preeclampsia is diagnosed and treated, the greater the chances of a healthy mother...