Birth Asphyxia
                     Birth 
Asphyxia
What is birth asphyxia?
 Asphyxia  (as-F IX-ee-uh)  means lack of  oxygen and 
blood fl ow to the brain.  
 Birth asphyxia happens when a baby’s  brain and 
other organs do not  get enough oxygen and 
nutr ients before ,  dur ing or  r ight after  bi r th.  
Source: www.seattlechildrens.org
Symptoms of Birth Asphyxia
 Not breathing or  very weak breathing
 Skin color  that  i s  bluish,  gray,  or  l ighter  than normal
 Low heart  rate
 Poor muscle  tone
 Weak refl exes
Source: www.seattlechildrens.org
Diagnosing Birth Asphyxia
 At b ir th,  doctors and nurses  check your  baby’s  
condi t ion carefu l ly  and give a number rat ing f rom 0 
to  10.  
 This  number is  cal led an Apgar score.  The Apgar 
rates  sk in color ,  heart  rate,  muscle  tone,  refl exes 
and breathing eff ort .  
Source: www.seattlechildrens.org
Signs of a lack of blood flow
 Abnormal  breathing
 Poor b lood c i rculat ion
 Lack of  energy ( le thargy)
 Low blood pressure
 Not pee ing
 Blood-c lott ing abnormal i t ies
Source: www.seattlechildrens.org
Treating Birth Asphyxia
 Breathing support  f rom a machine that  sends smal l ,  
rapid puff s of  a i r  into your chi ld ’s  lungs.  Some 
babies  may need ni t r ic  ox ide through a breathing 
tube or  a heart- lung pump for  l i fe  support .
 Body cool ing (hypothermia) .
 Medic ine to control  blood pressure.
 Kidney support  with d ia lys is .
Source: www.seattlechildrens.org
Umbilical cord prolapse
 This  bi r th compl icat ion occurs  when the  umbi l ical  
cord leaves the cerv ix before the  baby.
Source: www.seattlechildrens.org
Meconium aspiration 
syndrome
 This  syndrome occurs  when a baby inhales a mixture  
of  amniot ic  fl uid and meconium, thei r  fi rst  feces.
Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Amniotic fluid embolism
 Although,  this  compl icat ion — in which amniot ic  
fl uid enters the pregnant  person’s  b loodstream and 
causes an a l lerg ic  react ion — is  very ser ious .
Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Prevention
 eff ect ive resusc i tat ion
 control l ing body temperature
 ensur ing that  the correct  equipment is  avai lable
 having proper ly  tra ined and sk i l led heal thcare  
providers present  for  every bi r th
 pretreatment with certain medicat ions,  such as 
barbi turates ,  to reduce the r isk of  brain in jury
Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
THANK YOU