Researchers at Georgia State University have released a study that shows how pain in infancy alters the brain’s ability to process pain in adulthood.

The study indicates that infants who spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) show altered pain sensitivity in adolescence. These results have profound implications, and highlight the need for pre-emptive and post-operative pain medicine for newborn infants.

The study shows how the mechanisims of pain are altered after infant injury in a region of the brain called the periaqueductal gray. For the study, rats were used to examine why the brief experience of pain at the time of birth permanently decreased painsensitivity in adulthood.

Endogenous opioidpeptides serve to inhibit pain and are also the “feel good” substances that are released following high levels of exercise or love. These peptides are also released following injury and act like morphine to dampen the experience ofpain.

The researchers observed that adult animals that were injured at the time of birth had endogenous opioidlevels that were twice as high as normal. They also found a large decrease in the availability of mu and delta opioid receptors, which are necessary in order for pain medications to work.

This means that it takes more pain-relieving medications in order to provide relief. Studies in humans found similar results.

If your child has suffered a birth related injuries, please contact the Philadelphia Birth Injury Lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-329-3511.

A gathering of thenations leading maternal-child and quality assurance health care experts willreview and develop programs that will attempt to lower the nation’s preterm birth rate.

The symposium, whichwill be held in Arlington, Virginia on October 8 and 9, is a collaborativeproject of the March of Dimes, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the AmericanCollege of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Association of Women’sHealth, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses. Attendees will review existing programsthat successfully lowered cesarean section and induction rates, as well asimprove care and services for pregnant women and babies.

“There are tools outthere that can successfully prevent preterm birth, whether by ensuring that ac-section is medically necessary, or by screening pregnant women for diabetes,or by offering them access to smoking cessation programs,” said Alan R.Fleischman, MD, medical director for the March of Dimes. “At this meeting,OB-GYNs, pediatricians, nurses, hospital administrators, health insurers andpolicy makers will share their best practices and create a plan that willoutline education and intervention opportunities and begin to reverse theserious increase in our nation’s preterm birth rate.”

Poor delivery techniquecan lead to serious injuries during birth. If your child has suffered a birthrelated injuries, please contact the Philadelphia Birth Injury Lawyers ofLowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-329-3511.

Some research that is presently available shows a link between a heart birth defect and the use of antidepressants during pregnancy.

The study was conducted in Denmark and wads released.  The study showed the risk is great when a pregnant mother begins to take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).  According to the report,  the birth defect occurred in general about 0.5% of the time to mothers who did not take the SSRI antidepressants. For mothers that did take the antidepressants,  nearly 0.9% of children had the birth defect.

If
your child has suffered a birth related injury, contact the Philadelphia birth lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-329-3511. 

The Utah Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that an insurance company is responsible for a $1.3 million medical malpractice policy of a obstetrician. The obstetrician caused brain injuries to a child 12 years ago when he attempted to deliver the boy with forceps. 

The family of the boy first filed suit against the doctor in 1998, but the doctor disappeared before the trial. After the doctor's disappearnace, the insurance company tried to avoid making payments, claiming that the doctor never disclosed three previous malpractice claims. With interest, the payments could total $2 million, according to court records.

Poor delivery technique can lead to serious injuries during birth. If your child has suffered brain injuries resulting from the child's deliver, contact the Philadelphia birth lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-329-3511.

It is a commonly held belief that once a woman has a C section delivery, she cannot safely have a vaginal delivery ever again. However, this is not the case. In fact, some medical experts are urging women to return to vaginal birth after cesarean, or VBAC.

As long as there are no pressing medical issues with the pregnancy, a VBAC is often safer than another C section because it eliminates the need for surgery. There are also many things that can go wrong with a C section, resulting in lifelong problems for the infant. Because of this, it is important to speak with your doctor about VBACs.

If you have been a victim of medical malpractice, contact the Philadelphia birth injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams at 215-329-3511.

If a fetus is observed to be abnormally large, doctors will generally recommend a cesarian birth to avoid complications. This is because a larger baby can easily become stuck during delivery, often causing shoulder injuries like broken bones to the child and other injuries to the mother.

When a doctor notices that a fetus is large and does not inform the mother to be, he or she is putting both mother and child at risk of injury. In this case, the doctor is negligent and should be held accountable for any injuries caused.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of medical negligence, contact the Philadelphia infant bone fracture lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams at 215-329-3511.