Understanding birth injuries can be a daunting task, especially when your child is the one affected. It’s an emotional, overwhelming time but you don’t have to go at it alone. This guide aims to provide an overview of various types of birth injuries, in a language that’s easy to understand.
We hope this information will empower you with knowledge and guide you in making the best decisions for your little one’s health and well-being, leaving you equipped with the information on when to call in a birth injury attorney.
What are Birth Injuries?
Birth injuries can be anything and everything from minor bruising to severe, debilitating, and sometimes life-threatening conditions. They can occur before, during, or after birth and can be caused by various factors such as the baby’s size, position in the womb, duration of labor, use of tools like forceps or vacuum extractors during delivery, and other medical interventions.
In some cases, birth injuries may also result from negligence or medical malpractice on the part of the healthcare provider.
10 Types of Birth Injuries
If your child has any or a few of these injuries, it may be worthwhile to go to a birth injury attorney to seek advice. Here are 10 types of birth injuries to be aware of:
- Brachial Plexus Injuries: This injury occurs when there is damage to the nerves in the baby’s shoulder, neck, and arm during delivery. It can result in weakness, loss of sensation, or paralysis in these areas.
- Cerebral Palsy: This is a neurological disorder caused by damage to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth. It can result in various disabilities such as muscle coordination and movement problems, cognitive impairment, and speech difficulties.
- Brain Damage/Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE): This occurs when there is a lack of oxygen supply to the baby’s brain during delivery. It can lead to permanent brain damage and various neurological problems.
- Bone Fractures: These are breaks in the baby’s bones, usually occurring when there is excessive force applied during delivery.
- Facial Paralysis: This condition occurs when there is damage to the facial nerve during birth, resulting in temporary or permanent facial paralysis.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: These injuries arise when there is damage to the spinal cord during delivery, resulting in various degrees of paralysis and loss of sensation in different parts of the body.
- Caput Succedaneum: This is a condition where there is swelling or bruising on the baby’s scalp due to prolonged pressure during delivery.
- Cephalohematoma: Similar to caput succedaneum, this condition is characterized by a collection of blood under the baby’s scalp due to trauma during birth.
- Perinatal Asphyxia: This happens when there is a lack of oxygen supply to the baby’s brain before or during delivery, leading to brain damage and other complications.
- Subconjunctival Hemorrhage: This is a common birth injury where there is bleeding in the baby’s eye due to pressure during delivery, resulting in a red spot on the white part of the eye.
When to Call in a Birth Injury Attorney
If your child has been diagnosed with any of the above-mentioned birth injuries, it’s essential to seek legal advice from a birth injury attorney. An experienced attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options, guide you through the complex legal process, and fight for fair compensation for your child’s injuries. They can also help hold negligent medical professionals accountable and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
If you suspect that your child’s birth injuries were a result of medical malpractice or negligence, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted birth injury attorney for help.
Don’t Do it Alone—Partner With PMHP
At PMHP, we understand the emotional and financial toll that birth injuries can have on families. That’s why our team of experienced birth injury attorneys is dedicated to providing compassionate and effective legal representation for families affected by birth injuries.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help you and your child. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Let us be your trusted advocates during this difficult time.