A leading cause of non-obstetrical maternal mortality during pregnancy is injuries that are associated with complications in both the mother and the baby. In addition, such injuries can lead to maternal complications such as preterm delivery, uterine rupture, and placental abruption, as well as fetal and neonatal complications such as fetal asphyxia. While minor injuries can lead to such complications, more severe injuries often carry fatal risks.
However, there is limited evidence on the long-term associations between the negative impact of the unintentional maternal injury on fetuses and children’s neurodevelopment. A Canadian population-based birth cohort study published in JAMA Pediatrics examined the association between unintentional injuries during pregnancy and cerebral palsy (CP) risk in offspring and explored the role of the severity of such injuries on the risk of CP. Out of…
