United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Rich

I just read the article - very interesting the way they present the injury as occuring " while moving through the birth canal" this seems to imply that the injury could not be prevented!

My friend is a birthing coach and birth educator - we were talking about the Channel 12 News report where the ob/gyn said "up to 50% could be caused in utero...." She said "WHAT" (lol) one of the things she mentioned to me was that the laws of physics prevents the baby from being injured in utero because of the amniotic fluids, the pressure is dispersed through out the womb so how could that much pressure just injure the brachial plexus?

That made very good sense to me... Nice to have smart friends.

Now how can we get awareness to BPS

Kath

altho I agree that theinjury is definately NOT in utero and I did call by the way and complain with channel 12, I must say that I do believe there are a percetage of BPIs that are not prventable- not saying what that might be, guessing maybe about 10-15%- I think those babies were stuck and that the care practitioner did everything responsibly and honorably and sometimes, these things happen, but that leaves the other 85 90% so Im with you Kath, Im curiuous about whatyour friend thinks about that? Does she feel all BPIs are preventable? It is a respected opinion either way, Im just curious-

This was a very interesting article. It's amazing in the "supposed" advanced world of medicine that we live in 3 out of 100 children are born with BP. My daughter is one of those statistics. I didn't know that Shriner's Hospital in PA did this sort of surgery. Is anyone else familiar with this. I am interested in any or all information anyone can give me on this surgery. I live in LI, NY and while PA is closer than TCH, I hear TCH is definitely the place for surgery. Pls. let me know what your thoughts are.

Thanks, Joanne

There are several options for surgery as can be seen onthe medial resiurces page on the UBPN home page. Dr. Waters is also very impressive (in Boston), and my daughter had surgery with him. Every single specialst has their fans as well as critics, so it's a personnal choice who to go with as long as they experience in the surgery to produce the goals and outcomes your child needs. Research,ask questions, but by all means TCH isn't THE only place to get excellent service/intervention, althoughthey have statistically the most surgeries than any others.

-richinma

I agree with you there Rich, TCH isn't the only place to go. When we were looking into hospitals, we talked with people at the Shriners in Chicago, Dr. Grossman's in Miami, and TCH. We went to TCH because I felt comfortable with them and our neurosurgeon, who did a lot of research into where to go, recommended them (for medicaid to pay we needed a recommendation) You have to look around and find who you are comfortable with. Marymom, I agree with you that some of these injuries are not thru negligence, Ben's being such a case. I had no warning signs, i.e. gestational diabetes, weight gain, previous problem deliveries(well, as to that one, i did, but i had pre-eclampsia and the cord was around my son's neck, otherwise, he just shot on out,lol) and I didn't gain alot of weight, nor did Ben seem that big, but thats what happens when you give birth to a line backer, lol!! Ok, just my two cents worth, I'll shut up now