Fetal and birth trauma

Traumatic injuries in pregnancy are a major cause of nonobsterics maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.1 ^– 4 About 40 years ago, it was estimated that 6%–8% of pregnant women were affected by accidental injury.5 This number is likely to be greater now because more active lifestyles led by pregnant women in today’s society may put them at increased risk of injury. When a pregnant woman presents with a major trauma, two lives are at risk. The survival of the fetus depends primarily on maternal survival,5 but occasionally, the extent of maternal injury does not correlate with the degree of fetal injury.1 ^, 6 ^, 7