What Are Some Common Birth Injuries?

Birth injuries can be very minor but they can also be quite severe. They range in severity from bruising to nerve or brain damage. A small percentage of birth injuries are the result of medical malpractice. An attorney can help you evaluate a particular incident for the possibility of malpractice.

Common birth injuries include:

Bruises and forceps marks:

If a baby has bruising on its face or head it may be from passing through the birth canal and from contact with the mother's pelvic bones and tissues. If forceps are used, then they may leave temporary marks or bruises on the child's head. Vacuum extraction may also cause bruising to the head and can cause lacerations to the scalp. In severe cases, forceps may cause depressed skull fractures, which might actually require surgical elevation.

Caput Succedaneum: This is when a baby's scalp swells up, and is often linked to vacuum extraction. This swelling will typically disappear after a few days.

Facial Paralysis:

Pressure on a baby's face during labor or birth--or the usage of forceps during childbirth, might cause injury to a baby's facial nerves. If a nerve is only bruised, this paralysis will typically clear up after a few weeks. With more severe nerve damage, it might require surgery to repair the damaged facial nerves.

Brachial Palsy Injuries (including Erb's Palsy and Klumpke's Palsy)

This happens when the brachial plexus (the nerves that control movement of the arms and hands)is injured. The typically results from Shoulde Dystocia, which occurs when a baby's shoulder hinder passage through the birth canal.

Fractured bones: These injuries typically occur after a breech delivery and are temporary. The collar bone is one bone that, statistically, is broken more often in births.

Medical Malpractice and Birth Injuries

Medical mistakes that may support a malpractice action are:

Failure to anticipate birth complications

Failure to respond appropriately to bleeding

Failure to observe or respond to umbilical cord entrapment

Failure to respond to fetal distress

Delay in ordering a c- section

Misuse of forceps or vacuum extractor during delivery

Inappropriate or excessive usage of Pitocin.

If you suspect that your child may have received a birth injury as a result of medical malpractice, contact a medical malpractice attorney right away by calling 1 800 ATTORNEY. Our team of medical experts will be able to help you find out if you indeed have a case. Call us today.