What is Asphyxia?

Written by Yasiph
Friday, 19 January 2007
What is Asphyxia? When does asphyxia occur? What happens with asphyxia? How does someone know if there is asphyxia? How is asphyxia treated? What is asphyxia? Asphyxia is when there is less than normal oxygen delivered to the body or an organ and there is build up of carbon dioxide in the body or tissue. Not enough blood flow to an organ can cause asphyxia. When does asphyxia occur? It can happen any time--a long time before birth, shortly before birth, during delivery or after birth. What happens with asphyxia? If the period of asphyxia is short, the body may recover without damage. If the time is longer there may be injury that is reversible, not permanent. If the period is very long there may be permanent injury to one or more organs of the body. How does someone know if there is asphyxia? Before birth, asphyxia may occur without people knowing. If the pregnancy is high risk, the obstetrician may monitor the baby before birth looking for heart rate patterns, activity, and amount of amniotic fluid. If a baby is not doing well in the womb the heart rate pattern may become abnormal and/or the baby may stop moving. After birth, doctors can observe more directly the baby's heart rate, color, breathing and activity. Sick babies often have their heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and oxygen monitored all the time. How is asphyxia treated? The goals of treatment are to: prevent further asphyxia by trying to make oxygen, carbon dioxide and blood pressure normal. Support the baby so the body can repair the damage that it is possible to repair Your baby may need: medicine for seizures medicine to keep blood pressure normal to be feed by vein to be on a breathing machine If your baby has seizures, s/he will probably have an EEG - electroencephalogram or brain wave test. In addition, your baby's doctors may choose to do other tests ( Head ultrasound, CT scan or MRI) if they think they are needed. Source: University of Wisconsin and The Center For Perinatal Care at Meriter Hospital Madison, Wisconsin
Last Updated ( Friday, 19 January 2007 )

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How is Yafaau?

Yafaau is generally ok but we are concerned about his low weight. He's getting thinner day by day, although we try every effort not to let that happen. With feeding difficulty, we are also limited to different textures of food because he is on semi-solid food diet. We also could not give just any food as he is prone to constipation and that has been a concern since his early years.

But he is Fun to be with, smiles and even laughs on when we play with him. Samiya, my wonderful wife makes my life easier takes great care of him and am sort a happy with how he's improving. Slowly but surely :)

Thank you for being with us at Yafaau's FanClub

Thank you all very much for your blessings and concern, and thank you for being with us.

I'd like to remind all of you on Yafaau's FanClub again about telling young minds about children like Yafaau. Talking to young children about children with disAbilities do help them understand more about these "unusual" kids or maybe adults. Many "special" parents still feel difficult to be in public places due to community's response on their child. I however feel if children in our community is openly explained and their parents are made aware of the fact that it is okay to approach and ask "special" parents questions they do not happen to know. Because most of them don't know of any child or a person with a disAbility. Anyway, We can and we will, insha Allah see that day.