There are often times when an infant has to be placed under a resuscitation device due to breathing difficulties. This often occurs due to the infant not getting enough oxygen into its brain after birth. The brain needs oxygen or else its cells will start to die.
Such breathing problems develop due to a prolapsed umbilical cord or from the placenta breaking away from the inside wall of the uterus before the delivery can begin. The child's lungs might also be underdeveloped and will become weak. This is often a problem with children who are born prematurely.
A vacuum extraction procedure may also cause breathing issues. This occurs when a health care provider adds a vacuum pump onto the child's head during the delivery process. This will ease the child out of the birth canal as the mother is pushing. Infants who are larger are also more likely to suffer from resuscitation problems.
A medical center or hospital is responsible for monitoring an infant's vital signs and to decide if the child needs resuscitation. Many infant resuscitation error symptoms occur as a result of the child not getting the oxygen it requires until too much damage occurs within the brain. The intensity will become worse if the child does not receive the breathing support he or she requires.
Brain Damage
Brain damage often occurs as a result of the infant not receiving oxygen. This is common among infant resuscitation error symptoms in that brain cells are the first ones to die off as a result of the body not having enough oxygen. There are no known patterns as to precisely which particular parts of the brain will die off first.Limited Bodily Movement and Control
The brain's weakened state following a resuscitation error often results in the body becoming unable to move certain parts. The child may not have the ability to move his or her limbs or extremities. A child may also develop an inability to control their organs. The brain could potentially lose its natural connections with critical organs, thus forcing a child into difficulties with handling certain bodily actions. The possibility for a child to require long-term care to promote certain physical functions and behaviors may be extensive.Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a condition where parts of the brain suffer from paralysis. This causes particular muscles around the body to become weak, as the brain is unable to control them properly. This especially develops around the arms and legs. Various cognitive difficulties can be found in children who develop cerebral palsy. This is due to many areas around the brain becoming weak as cells begin to die off. In addition, a child may develop problems with their sense of balance, depth perception or the ability to walk without inhibition.Mental Disorders
Infants will begin to show the first signs of commonplace mental disorders if their breathing experiences delays. The earliest signs of autism, which often entail a child not making eye contact or engaging in repetitive actions, are often found among infants who have suffered from a resuscitation error. Over time, a child may develop cognitive disabilities and an inability to focus. ADHD and ADD are especially commonplace among children who suffered from infant resuscitation symptoms at an early age. Many of these children may also have lower IQ scores than those whose breathing or access to oxygen was not impacted upon birth. It is crucial for a health care center to observe the child's vital signs at all points during the delivery process and to ensure that the child is placed under breathing support the minute that certain breathing problems are found. Sources:- “Neonatal Resuscitation.” Medscape. 6 March 2015. Web 30 July 2015. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/977002-overview
- “Teamwork behaviours and errors during neonatal resuscitation.” Quality and Safety in Health Care. 19(1). February (2010).