What could be done to prevent birth hypoxia?
Loss of oxygen to the brain may result in death or a lifetime of blindness, mental retardation, or cerebral palsy. Research shows that lowering a newborn’s body temperature a few degrees could reduce the likelihood of death or disability associated with depleted oxygen. Complications of Oxygen Deprivation at Birth Oxygen deprivation or hypoxia, typically occurs as a complication of birth. For example, if the umbilical cord becomes trapped between a baby’s head and the wall of the uterus, pressure on the cord may cut off the baby’s oxygen supply. Hypoxia may also result from blood loss, perhaps when the placenta tears free of the uterine wall or the uterus ruptures. Blood loss or hypoxia at birth may lead to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a condition experienced by 1 in every 1,000 newborns. When an infant has received inadequate supply of oxygen during labor or delivery, it may cause brain injury, confirmed by less electrical activity in the brain or brain wave analysis. A lack
