New device aims to reduce birth injuries during C-sections

Published on December 14, 2014

Every year, millions of proud parents eagerly await the birth of their child. It’s an exciting time, but also a nerve-racking one. Couples may take classes, read books, and scour the web to ensure every step is followed during pregnancy in hopes of a healthy baby girl or boy. Unfortunately, there are some things parents are unable to protect their baby from: birth injuries. Each year, nearly 4 million babies are born in the U.S. Of those, an estimated 28,000 babies will suffer a birth injury.

If you are a soon-to-be or new parent, this is not meant to scare you, but rather act as a resource. A birth injury is defined as an ”impairment of body function or structure due to adverse influences to which the infant has been subjected at birth.” This could include broken bones, nerve damage, cerebral palsy, infections, blindness, facial paralysis, bruising, swelling, lacerations, and more.

In some of these cases, the injury is the result of medical malpractice, an error made before, during, or after delivery causing harm to your baby. An example of a birth injury during delivery is a fetal laceration. These are injuries resulting from a cesarean section. An obstetrician may accidentally cut your baby with the scalpel while performing a C-section. This could result in a scar on your baby’s body or face, or in extreme cases, an accidental amputation of a finger or toe.

Fortunately, there is a new FDA-approved device aimed at reducing the risk of nicks and cuts to newborns during cesarean sections. It’s called C SAFE and it’s only $28. It works by using a blunt piece of plastic for the initial incision. A blade is safely placed between the plastic so the baby is not harmed. You can see the device and how it works by clicking here. The next time you are considering a C-section for your child, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor if he or she uses C SAFE. It’s one less risk to consider.