Perinatal asphyxia affects 10% of births in Brazil

September is also recognized as a month of awareness for Perinatal Asphyxia. It refers to oxygen insufficiency in newborn babies. The month serves to highlight the importance of ideal conditions for a child's birth.

According to pediatrician and Novabrasil columnist Renato Kfouri, "labor does not always have the ideal outcome for the baby's health. The placenta may detach prematurely, there may be bleeding in the umbilical cord, or a true knot that ends up strangling the baby's oxygen supply." These events can lead to oxygen insufficiency in the child, causing neurological or clinical damage.

Assisted and quality childbirth is crucial in these moments. Ten percent of births require immediate assistance in cases of oxygen deprivation. The professional then performs neonatal resuscitation. For Renato Kfouri, "early intervention in this first moment of life, which we call the Golden Minute, will reverse almost all of these cases of difficulty and prevent Perinatal Asphyxia."

The pediatrician emphasizes that prenatal care is very important to ensure the birth of a healthy child. "We need quality prenatal care, at least six consultations during pregnancy, identification of maternal risk factors, and encouragement of hospital births," says Kfouri. He reminds us that birth should occur safely, and the hospital environment provides these conditions.