Risk Factors Of Perinatal Asphyxia

Perinatal asphyxia occurs when a newborn baby is deprived of oxygen. This can eventually lead to the death of the baby. Perinatal asphyxia can occur before, during, or after childbirth and for a variety of reasons.

According to data from a recent study, around 20% of babies suffering from perinatal asphyxia worldwide die and those who survive often have permanent neurological problems.

There are many situations that can cause problems for a newborn. These problems can arise before, during and after the birth of the baby. In this article, we will focus on discussing the latest research on this topic.

One of the leading causes of neonatal death

The World Health Organization (WHO) lists neonatal asphyxia as one of the leading causes of death in newborns. Often doctors will notice immediately after delivery that the baby develops an oxygen deficiency if the newborn does not cry or move.

Another sign of neonatal asphyxia in a newborn is that the baby’s body is floppy. In both situations, doctors should act as quickly as possible.

Doctors should monitor the situation closely and try to determine the cause of the asphyxia in order to arrive at the best solution. If a baby already suffers from oxygen deficiency before delivery, a caesarean section may be necessary.

What Causes Perinatal Asphyxia?

Perinatal asphyxia can be caused by several factors and these may differ depending on whether the suffocation occurs before, during or after birth.

Perinatal Asphyxia Before Childbirth

This type of asphyxia can occur during any month of pregnancy, although it usually occurs closer to the delivery date. For this reason, routine medical checkups are important to make sure all is well with both the baby and the mother. Some factors that can cause perinatal asphyxia include:

• maternal anemia.
• bleeding during pregnancy.

• incorrect positioning of the baby’s head.
• prolonged pregnancy (more than 42 weeks).
• infection contracted by the mother.

During birth

Certain dangerous situations can arise during childbirth . While doctors are prepared to deal with all circumstances, it’s important to know what can happen in extreme cases:

• The umbilical cord wraps around the baby’s neck or becomes compressed at some point.
• Preeclampsia that increases the mother’s blood pressure.
• A breathing problem for the mother.
• Using forceps during birth.
• Delivery that lasts longer than it should.

After the birth

Despite the fact that they are already born, the risk of perinatal asphyxia can still be present after delivery. The causes include:

• premature birth, as the organs of a premature baby are not strong.
• congenital malformation.
• lung or heart disease.
• severely underweight babies.

Usually when a baby suffers from mild asphyxia, he cries too much, is irritated and has a more pronounced muscle tone. However, this usually takes no more than one day.

In contrast, if the situation is more serious, the newborn may have convulsions, lack the sucking reflex necessary to breastfeed and have very low muscle tone.

Neurological damage

How quickly the perinatal asphyxia was treated and whether it caused problems in the newborn greatly affects the baby’s chance of neurological damage.

For example, the risk of neurological damage is high if the baby has any kind of cardiovascular problems or lung failure. Neurological damage generally occurs when:

• the baby had any kind of convulsions or seizures
• the asphyxia persisted for a long time
• other additional factors come into play

Another factor that can increase the likelihood of neurological damage is if the newborn has acidosis. Too much acid builds up in the blood. Careful monitoring during pregnancy can prevent many of the factors that cause perinatal asphyxia. However, there are circumstances that are uncontrollable.

While some situations can be unmanageable, it is essential for a successful pregnancy to have qualified and attentive staff who are experienced and familiar with the different situations that can arise before and during delivery. Perinatal asphyxia can be fatal, so all precautions are necessary.