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What Are The Most Common Birth Injuries?

May 02, 2022

Understanding the risks of birth can help you and your partner prepare for the experience and make the most of it. You’re about to become parents, and the thought of giving birth may make you feel both terrified and excited. But for some couples, the process of giving birth can be traumatic.

If you’re planning on giving birth, it’s a good idea to know what you’re getting yourself into. While birth is a natural process, it can be dangerous if not prepared for. That’s why knowing the most common birth injuries is so important.

Even if you’re a seasoned pro who’s been planning your pregnancy for months and looking forward to experiencing the birth of your second or third child together, it’s natural to feel nervous about the experience. As a parent, you want to ensure that your child has the best possible start in life.

That being said, there’s no such thing as a completely risk-free birth. While some risks are inherent to the process of giving birth, others are a result of medical negligence. Therefore, it’s important to not only understand the risks and dangers of childbirth but also know what you can do to mitigate them.

At the Doctor Lawyer Firm, we’ve helped our clients win tens of millions of combined dollars in medical malpractice cases and millions in cases related to childbirth. If you or your child is a victim of a birth injury, we invite you to speak with our birth injuries lawyer.

Our firm will fight for your rights and the rights of your loved ones, so contact us today to get started. In the meantime, brush up on your birth injuries knowledge with our guide to the most common injuries related to birth.

Oxygen Deprivation

Brain injuries can result from oxygen deprivation during birth. These brain injuries can lead to cerebral palsy and chronic seizures. Brain injuries can occur if the doctor does not monitor the baby properly after birth or leaves the baby in the birth canal for too long. Even mild oxygen deprivation can lead to intellectual and physical disabilities as well as permanent problems.

Fractured Collarbones

A complicated birth can lead to bone fractures, especially if the collarbone is fractured. These fractures usually heal themselves, but the baby might need to be immobilized in order to treat them.

Cerebral Palsy

2 to 3 children in every 1,000 born may have cerebral palsy. This is a medical condition that causes weakness of the muscles and motor skills, as well as muscle spasms. Cerebral palsy can be caused by brain damage that occurs at birth. Extreme hypoxic episodes can be caused by poor monitoring of the mother during labor, inept birth techniques, and inadequate monitoring of fetal distress.

Although surgery can help, cerebral palsy is not curable. Therapy often takes a lifetime. Additional health problems such as learning disabilities, vision impairments, speech problems, and learning disabilities can result from cerebral palsy.

Caput Succedaneum

Caput succedaneum is characterized by swelling of the scalp and/or portions thereof that appear discolored or bruised. Caput succedaneum can be caused by pressure on the scalp, perhaps from forceps use. Caput succedaneum does not pose a life-threatening threat and usually heals itself.

Spinal Cord Injuries

These injuries are the most severe of all birth injuries. They may be caused by the excessive use of forceps, which can cause nerve or cord damage. These injuries can lead to paralysis or neurological problems.

Cephalohematoma

Cephalohematoma is a birth injury that results in bleeding under the cranial bones. A raised bump can appear after birth, possibly due to forceps use. Although a cephalohematoma can be resolved in a few months, it can also pose risks like meningitis and jaundice.

Facial Paralysis

Damaged facial nerves may occur if an infant’s face is subject to too much pressure during delivery. When forceps or vacuums are used to remove the baby, facial paralysis is more common. The baby might not be able to move the affected side of their face or even close their eyes.

Brachial Plexus

These injuries result in nerve damage that affects the nerves located at the top of the spine and down the neck. These nerves extend to the shoulders, arms, and hands. The damage may be temporary or permanent. This injury can be as simple as stretching the nerve. More severe cases may involve nerves that have ruptured or torn and fail to heal properly. Complete paralysis can occur when the nerve roots become detached from the spine.

Perinatal Asphyxia

Insufficient oxygen may cause this. This could happen if there is an oxygen deficiency or if the baby is not receiving enough blood flow immediately after birth. Perinatal asphyxia is a condition that causes a baby to have a pale complexion, labored breathing, seizures, shock, and even coma.

Hemorrhages

If bleeding occurs under the two outermost layers of the brain, it could be subarachnoid hemorrhage. Subconjunctival hemorrhage is a condition where a blood vessel in an eye bursts. This can be caused by pressure variations during birth.

Contact the Doctor Lawyer Firm Today

Birth injuries are very real risks. If you or your child suffered an injury during childbirth, we encourage you to contact us right away. At the Doctor Lawyer Firm, we specialize in fighting against medical malpractice to get you the compensation you deserve. If you would like to schedule a consultation with our birth injuries lawyer, please call 833-633-6257   MedMals today. You may also complete our contact form to get started.

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