Each Baby Counts is a national quality improvement programme led by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). Its goal is to reduce the number of babies who die or are left severely disabled as a result of incidents occurring during term labour.

The cauda equina is a collection of spinal nerves and nerve roots below the tapered end of the spinal cord, or conus medullaris. It consists of the second through to the fifth lumbar nerve pairs, all sacral nerve pairs and the coccygeal nerve. These nerve roots are called cauda equina nerve roots because early anatomists thought they looked like a horse’s tail. Cauda Equina is Latin for “horse’s tail”.  The cauda equina nerves control bladder and bowel, sexual function, sensation in the groin area and motor function throughout the legs.

Fraser was born into a sporty family. Unfortunately he sustained a severe group 2 injury when the 5th, 6th and 7th cervical nerves in his brachial plexus were damaged during his birth.  His injury limits the function and range of movement in his left hand and arm, especially at the shoulder.

Luke was born in 1999 and suffered bilateral fractured clavicles and damage to the brachial plexus due to the force used to deliver him. The brachial plexus is the network of nerves that sends signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm and hand, to supply movement and sensation. Tests at 3 months of age confirmed widespread and severe damage to all 5 nerve roots, including avulsion from the spinal cord. Surgery was performed and extensive physiotherapy provided but such degree of damage was beyond repair. 

Spinal cord injuries arise when there is damage to the spinal cord that causes changes in its function. The problems arising from spinal cord injuries can be either temporary or permanent but often result in life changing complications such as: