Brachial Plexus Injuries-Be Informed of Risks Associated with Shoulder Dystocia

[raisingcropsandbabies]

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This week is Brachial Plexus Awareness Week. Brachial Plexus injuries often happen at birth as a result of a shoulder dystocia. When babies become stuck, they are often pulled on and that can injure a group of nerves (or two groups) called the brachial plexus. Those nerves groups are responsible for movement of both arms (one group moves one arm). When the nerves are damaged, this disability has occured. The injury can lead to lifelong therapies, surgeries, and limited movement of the arm, wrist, and fingers. It is a life-changing injury and one that most have never heard of (as was my case until it happened to my son).

In honor of this week, I am posting a video link to a montage I made for my son on his 2nd birthday. He is now 5 years old and has gone through more years of therapies and hard work, with many ups and downs.
To watch the video and one infants's 2 year journey with this injury: http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site..._id=1901&large

Please be informed about your risks of experiencing shoulder dystocia and do your best to minimize those. Talk with your care provider about their experience with this and how they are trained to deal with the emergency to do their best to prevent this lifelong injury.
To learn more about your risks visit: http://www.ubpn.org/index.php?option...d=66&Itemid=67

For those of you who's infants were recently injured and you are lost and feel alone and unsure of where to go, there are wonderful Brachial Plexus Centers out there. They specialize in ways to give your baby the care they need and the hope of having the most movement they can. Some of those Centers are listed in links below:
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/s...tions/default/
http://www.shrinershospitalsforchild...FQjznAodEXsApw
http://www.childrenshospital.org/cli...geS1165P0.html

Blessings, A Brachial Plexus Mama

[roseyroberts]

Thanks for posting this. I don't have time to look at the links at the moment....but I will later. I am so sorry that your sweet boy has to deal with this. I have read some of your other posts about what y'all have been through, and it's heart breaking!

[raisingcropsandbabies]

Originally Posted by roseyroberts Thanks for posting this. I don't have time to look at the links at the moment....but I will later. I am so sorry that your sweet boy has to deal with this. I have read some of your other posts about what y'all have been through, and it's heart breaking!

Oh, it's okay. I just pray other mamas will be aware of this injury and will be able to learn from us and maybe one injury will be prevented because of it. God chose to intervene and save my son's life and for that I am thankful. He did not choose to intervene with my son's injury or issues from lack of oxygen, and I trust in the good that will come from that. He has guided us and put the right people in our lives. This month has been difficult (a new, very intense therapy), but we are learning and getting stronger physically and emotionally. I am so proud of my little man!

[earthmama7]

I couldn't get the one true media link to work?

[raisingcropsandbabies]

Oops- video link correction: http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site..._id=1901&large