Birth asphyxia occurs when a newborn is deprived of adequate oxygen around delivery. Causes include placental abruption, umbilical cord compression, severe maternal haemorrhage, very low maternal blood pressure, and prolonged complicated labour. Many cases arise from obstetric emergencies that could not have been anticipated. Some are associated with risk factors including pre-eclampsia, a small or growth-restricted baby, or a previous complicated delivery that can be identified in advance and managed with careful antenatal monitoring and planned delivery at a hospital with NICU facilities. When a baby is at higher risk, ensuring delivery at a hospital with a neonatologist available and a NICU equipped for cooling treatment is the most important preventive step families can take. "Early recognition at delivery and immediate resuscitation are what most change the outcome once birth asphyxia has occurred."
Written by Dr. Kabir Nanda, MD Paediatrics, Fellowship in Neonatology (NNF Accredited), Pediatrician and Neonatologist, Sukhmani Hospital, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi, and Westend Hospital, Tilak Nagar, New Delhi. Phone: +91 8076178418.
