Birth Injury Prevention

We know that the majority of Erb’s Palsy cases can be prevented.  Therefore, it’s important to educate ourselves about risk factors and to know what to do if these risk factors apply to your pregnancy.  There is no reason to be nervous if you keep these things in mind.

Risk Factors

• Birth weight of infant is over 8.5 lbs.
• Mother has diabetes
• Breech delivery
• Previous child delivered with shoulder dystocia¹
• Small mother
• Long labor
• Precipitous labor (i.e. labor that is faster than normal)
• Fetal malposition in birth canal
• Labor is induced or sped up by medicine
• Use of forceps or vacuum extraction tools during delivery*** (This is super important.  These tools can be very harmful to a baby.)

Prevention

• Doctor should never pull on or twist the baby’s head.
• Have a cesarean section for babies who are too large to fit through the birth canal.  In rare cases BPI can happen during C-sections but it is much less likely.
• Do not deliver the baby on your back. This is the worst position to be in.  Learn about different, more beneficial positions.
• Have a calm birthing environment, so the delivery is not rushed. Your obstetrician or midwife should seem like they can handle a stressful situation like this with ease.

shoulder dystocia¹: when a shoulder gets stuck in the birth canal

For more information about Erb’s Palsy causes and preventions, please watch the video below.  It includes interviews with highly educated professionals in the field who give great insight on this topic.

Do you know of any other risk factors or ways to prevent Erb’s Palsy at birth? I'd love to hear other people’s insights! Please comment below.

Sources:

http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/cerebral-palsy/types/erbs-palsy.html

http://www.birthinjuryguide.org/erbs-palsy/

http://www.erbpalsy.org/prevention.html

Getting Past Pull-Ups

I’ve been doing Crossfit for about four years and have always struggled with pull-ups.  I still don’t have enough strength to lift my own body weight so I’ve needed modifications to work the same muscles in a different way.  For a long time, I was told to do ring rows because they simulated pull-ups.  However, I knew that this wasn’t working the exact muscle groups I wanted to eventually progress to Rx pull-ups. 

However, about six months ago the trainers at my gym (thank you Crossfit Singular Box!!), recommended that I put a barbell on J-Hooks at shoulder height.  Then I could do pull-ups from the floor!  (By the way, this isn’t a modification just for me; it’s for anyone who can’t yet do a strict pull-up.)  I thought the idea was awesome and have been doing pull-ups like this ever since.  Here are the methods for doing different types of modified pull-ups...

Method #1: The easiest method is putting your feet in front of you with your knees bent.  Your shins should be perpendicular to the ground and your hips should be under the barbell.  Then keep your shoulders down, elbows as close to your body as you can, and pull-up!

Method #2: The next option is to put your feet behind you with your toes pointed and hips still under the barbell.  Then, just like before, keep your shoulders down, elbows as close to your body as possible, and pull-up!

“But these exercises are too easy for me! I’m using my legs much more than my arms to do the work. Am I doing them correctly?”

Imagine that someone’s hands or a brand new iPhone is under your feet.  Now try pulling up.  I’m sure you didn’t use your legs as much this time! 

Method #3: The last option is doing a jumping pull-up from the bar.  You can put the barbell away now and grab a box (if needed) that will be at the right height for you to do this exercise.  The box will bring you closer to the bar so that you can get your chin over the bar to complete the movement.  If you don't need the box, don't use it.  The exercise is very simple.  Just stand under the bar and jump high enough to help your arms with the pull-up movement. Make sure your arms are doing as much work as they can to pull you up the rest of the way.

Hope this helps and if you have any other tips on doing modified pull-ups, please comment below!

(Video cred. Loni Slatkin - Thank you!)