Birth Injuries Attorneys
The term “birth injuries” encompass a wide variety of injuries that happen during pregnancy, the delivery of a baby, or shortly after a baby’s birth. Some of the injuries are relatively minor and can resolve on their own; however, there are other birth injuries that can cause a lifetime of physical, cognitive, or behavioral disability and require extensive and specialized medical care, or can even be fatal. Birth injuries of any severity occur in approximately 3 percent of births.
Birth Injury Causes
While parents sometimes blame themselves for birth injuries, many such injuries are the result of medical malpractice. Obstetricians, doctors in other medical specialties, and nurses are responsible for monitoring the progress and health of pregnant women and their babies during pregnancy. If a medical professional fails to provide this basic level of care, he or she may be guilty of medical negligence. That negligence during pregnancy or during the delivery can cause your baby and your family hardship throughout life. If your child suffered a birth injury in Florida that resulted from medical malpractice, you may be entitled to receive compensation that can provide for the special, and often expensive, medical care your child needs.
Birth Injuries Symptoms
The symptoms of birth injuries vary according to the types of injuries involved. However, some of the common symptoms of birth injuries include:
- delayed motor development;
- lack of depth perception;
- muscle spasms;
- paralysis;
- poor balance; and
- poor coordination
Common Birth Injuries
Brachial Plexus Injury
The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves located between the shoulder and neck. These nerves control the arm, the hand, and the fingers. Brachial plexus injuries are caused when too much force is used during a vaginal delivery with shoulder dystocia (a condition in which the baby’s shoulder is wedged behind the mother’s pubic bone). A condition called Erb’s palsy is a common form of brachial plexus injury. Serious forms of Erb’s palsy can be permanent and can paralyze the upper body, inhibit arm movement, cause limpness, and cause a lack of muscle control.
Spinal Cord Injury
Excessive traction or excessive rotation of the baby during a vaginal delivery can injure the baby’s spinal cord. Babies in the breech position are especially at risk of spinal cord injuries; therefore, these babies are normally delivered by cesarean section for their safety. A spinal cord injury can result in stillbirth or death shortly after delivery due to respiratory failure. Survivors may suffer permanent and severe disabilities. Often, spasticity develops later and can be misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy.
Broken Bones
A broken collarbone is the most common type of fracture sustained during delivery. If your baby suffered a broken collarbone during delivery, he or she should also be checked for spinal cord and brachial plexus injuries.
Skull fractures can occur during delivery either by the misuse of forceps or a vacuum extractor, but can also result from dropping the baby immediately after delivery. Skull fractures are serious and can lead to other birth injuries, such as brain injuries.
Other Types of Birth Injuries
The following list indicates some of the other common types of birth injuries:
- birth asphyxia;
- bleeding below the scalp;
- bleeding inside the skull;
- brain injuries;
- breech birth;
- bruising from forceps;
- cerebral palsy;
- excessive bleeding;
- facial nerve injuries;
- fetal stroke;
- hematomas;
- hypoxia;
- infections;
- jaundice;
- meconium aspiration;
- muscle tears during delivery;
- neonatal hypoglycemia (low blood sugar);
- neurological injuries;
- paralysis;
- prolapsed umbilical cord;
- seizures;
- skin irritation;
- soft tissue injury; and
- spasticity
- wrongful birth
If your baby has suffered a birth injury, or you believe your baby may have suffered such an injury, please seek appropriate medical treatment for your child immediately. Then please contact us for a free and confidential consultation about your case. You may phone us at 305-372-0123 (local) or 877-662-5399 (toll free) or contact us online to arrange your consultation. At no charge, you can tell us about your experience and learn how the legal system may handle your case. We look forward to hearing from you and to working with you.
