Erb's palsy

Erb's palsy and brachial plexus are closely related conditions.In this Episode we talk about Erb's palsy which is a type of brachial plexus that affects the upper nerves of the brachial plexus specifically the C5 and C6 nerve roots.

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that originates from the spinal cord in the neck and supplies the muscles and sensation to the shoulder, arm, and hand.

During chirld birth if there is excessive strecching or tearing of the brachial plexus nerve it can result to erb's palsy.This can occur when there is excessive traction on the babys head or neck during prolonged delivery, difficult delivery such as shoulder dystocia.

The symptoms may include weakness or paralysis of the affected arm, limited range of motion and loss of sensation.

Treatment for erb's palsy my involve occupational therapy,physical therapy and in some cases surgery to repair the dameged nerves.

The main aim of the therayp is to improve the mobility in the affected arm.

My guest Adhiambo Opondo took us through her personal expirience through her daughter and the healing process through this trauma.She explains the importance of having support from your partner and family during pregnancy and even after birth.

Terminologies :

brachial plexus- Network of nerves that stamms from the spinal cod in the neck

Nerves - Bundles of fibres carrying messages to and from the brain

Supination-the act of turning the palms of the hands or soles of the feet upward

Apgar score is a rapid assessment tool that can be used to evaluate the health status of a newborn immediately after birth. It assesses five criteria: Appearance, Pulse, Facial Expression, Activity and Respiration, with a maximum score of 10. Based on the score, medical staff can determine if immediate medical intervention is needed for the baby.