It is an incredibly emotional situation for a parent when their child is injured during the birthing process. While not every birth injury stems from negligence, a good number of these injuries could have been prevented with reasonable and diligent medical care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are some birth injuries that are more common than others.
Facial Paralysis
There are times during the birthing process that too much pressure is applied to the baby’s face. When this happens, the facial nerves can be damaged. This type of injury is most common when doctors use vacuum extraction or forceps to remove the baby. If the injury is not severe, it may clear on its own. When it is severe, however, the child may have lifelong consequences.
Brachial Palsy Injuries
These types of injuries include Klumpke’s palsy and Erb’s palsy. These injuries typically occur when the shoulders are trapped in the mother’s pelvis during surgery. The resulting damage can cause paralysis in the hands and arms.
Brain Injuries
When an infant suffers oxygen deprivation during the birthing process, a variety of problems can follow. The child may be forced to live with chronic seizures or even cerebral palsy. These injuries may be caused when a doctor does not correctly monitor the infant after birth, if the child remains in the birth canal for an extended period of time, or even from a prolapsed umbilical cord.
Fractures
Fractures are more common during birth when the baby is in the breech position. This positioning may force the doctor to pull on the baby, fracturing an arm. These types of injuries normally heal on their own in less than 10 days.
Cephalohematoma
This is essentially a bruising of the cranium. A child that has been assisted from the birth canal by an instrument is most likely to suffer with this injury. While many heal, some take a considerable amount of time and can lead to meningitis, jaundice or anemia.
If your child has suffered a birth injury due to negligence, we are here for you. Call our experienced team of personal injury attorneys and let us review the details of your case at no cost to you. Contact us today.