There are numerous risks involved with giving birth. Both the mother and baby can experience birth trauma due to natural births and caesarean section procedures. Unfortunately, while some injuries are minor, others caused by negligence from medical staff can be life-changing.
According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 605,479 births in England and Wales in 2022, which means that a significant proportion of the population could be affected by birth injuries or and chronic pain. Here’s what you need to know about birth injuries and ways to help ease the pain.
What do statistics say about birth injuries in the UK?
Sadly, around 30,000 women a year experience some form of birth trauma in the UK, according to statistics by the Birth Trauma Association. While these can be minor birth injuries that heal without assistance, other cases are more severe due to medical negligence.
Minor injuries might include bruising, whereas more serious cases may cause more harmful injuries or disorders. Examples of these include fractures or facial paralysis. Beyond this, the mother may develop postnatal depression or PTSD, which can worsen the circumstances. This might involve intense flashbacks, intrusive thoughts or physical sensations like pain or nausea.
What are the common birth injuries?
Examples of birth injuries to the baby can include skull injuries such as underlying skull fractures that require surgery. Alternatively, they may experience bleeding between the periosteum and skull, causing a haematoma where resulting blood loss can cause anaemia.
The baby could also suffer cuts and abrasions from operative delivery, where the baby is injured with the scalpel blade during a caesarean section. Then, of course, the mother is also at risk from cuts that need closing and dressing properly due to this procedure.
Another example of a birth trauma injury is a brachial plexus injury. Most of these involve Erb’s palsy where the upper part of the brachial plexus is generally caused by injudicious traction when the anterior shoulder is trapped. This can result in a fractured humerus or clavicle. Sometimes, it can cause facial palsy.
How to ease the pain when you’re exposed to chronic pain caused by birth injuries
Some mothers are exposed to chronic pain due to giving birth.
Injuries to the perineal area such as perineal tears can lead to further complications. The skin, muscles and nerves can be affected, causing pain and discomfort. If your perineal tears are severe, you can be prescribed antibiotics to stop the wounds from getting infected.
Other examples include injuries to the pelvic floor. This can be eased with stool softeners so that you don’t have to strain when going to the toilet. A physiotherapist can also help you ease the pain with exercises to help strengthen your pelvic floor.
In some cases, birth injuries can be severe and as a result of medical negligence. And while this won’t undo the physical or emotional pain you’ve experienced, seeking legal support in cases of medical negligence could help you secure financial support to help you move forward. Compensation can help you access the help you or your baby need to live more comfortably.
There are some things you can do to help prevent pain in the lead-up to your birth:
- Strengthening your pelvic muscles with exercises
- Having perineal massages
While giving birth, you can use breathing techniques to make the birth slower and more controlled. If you gave birth vaginally, your doctors or midwife should examine you for perineal tears. Although having a caesarean can help prevent these types of birth injuries, there are still risks associated with having major surgery such as this and you should seek advice from your healthcare provider in the lead-up to the operation.