Subtitle: Essential Criteria for Birth Asphyxia
Asphyxia, also known as birth asphyxia, is a condition in which a newborn baby does not receive enough oxygen during birth. This can lead to serious health complications in newborns, including brain damage, seizures, and even death. It is important to diagnose and treat birth asphyxia quickly and accurately. The essential criteria for diagnosing birth asphyxia are as follows:
Low Apgar Score: The Apgar score is a test that is used to measure a baby’s well-being at birth. A low Apgar score (less than seven) may be an indication of birth asphyxia.
Low Heart Rate: A newborn’s heart rate should be between 120 and 160 beats per minute. A heart rate that is lower than this can be indicative of birth asphyxia.
Low Blood Pressure: A newborn’s blood pressure should be between 50 and 70. If the blood pressure is lower than this, it can be a sign of birth asphyxia.
Low Oxygen Levels: A newborn’s oxygen levels should be between 95 and 100 percent. If the oxygen levels are lower than this, it can be an indication of birth asphyxia.
Abnormal Breathing Patterns: A baby should begin breathing within the first minute of birth. If the baby does not, or if the breathing is irregular or shallow, this can be a sign of birth asphyxia.
Abnormal Reflexes: A newborn’s reflexes should be normal. If the reflexes are weak or absent, this can be an indication of birth asphyxia.
If any of these symptoms are present, it is important to act quickly to prevent further complications or death. It is important for medical professionals to be aware of the essential criteria for diagnosing birth asphyxia, so that they can provide the best care for newborns.
