What Is a Traumatic Birth Injury?

With the help of advanced medical technology, most babies in the U.S. are born without complications and grow up to live a healthy life. However, there is a chance a birth injury can happen before, during, or immediately after the birthing process. When a birth injury occurs, it can cause long-term, devastating effects. Here’s what you need to know.

Warning Signs of a Birth Injury

The following signs could indicate that a birth injury may have occurred:

• The baby’s skin is pale or bluish.
• The baby has labored or slow breathing.
• The baby has undergone resuscitation.
• The baby has a slow heart rate.
• The baby seems lethargic or sluggish.
• The baby has difficulty feeding or isn’t interested in feeding.
• The baby is making odd movements in the face, arms, or legs.
• The baby has scored low on the APGAR test.

Common Types of Birth Injuries

The following are the most common types of birth injuries that can occur during childbirth:

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy can be the result of damage to the brain that occurred during delivery. This can happen if the baby has gone through inadequate birth techniques, or the mother has not been appropriately monitored during labor.

Facial Paralysis

Facial paralysis can happen when the baby is subjected to excessive pressure during the delivery resulting in damaged facial nerves. For example, the chances of facial paralysis may increase when the baby is born by the use of forceps or vacuum extraction.

Chronic Seizures

Chronic seizures can happen when a baby has gone through oxygen deprivation. Oxygen deprivation can occur when a baby has remained in the birth canal for too long.

Brachial Plexus

Brachial plexus involves damage to the nerves that run from the upper spine to the neck, shoulder, arms, and hand. In extreme cases, complete paralysis could occur.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are one of the most serious of birth injuries, which can happen when forceps are used with extreme force. This could cause damage to the spinal cord or its nerves.

Contact a Birth Injury Lawyer

Coping with a child who has sustained an injury during the birthing process is undoubtedly devastating and stressful — especially when the effects are life-altering. Our experienced birth injury lawyers are here to help if your baby has suffered a birth injury due to a doctor’s negligence. The law team at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC has been helping victims of medical malpractice in the Memphis Tri-State area since 1970.

We are here for you. Our phones are answered hours a day. Contact us today at (901) 526-2126.