Gary Susak

Birth Injuries Are More Common than You Think

Although child birth is a natural event, complications can arise anytime during the pregnancy, labor and delivery stages. This article reviews the reasons for birth injuries.

According to the 2008 National Healthcare Quality Report, an average of 7 birth injuries occur out of every 1,000 live births in the United States. Although birthing a baby is considered a natural event, complications can arise anytime during the pregnancy, labor and delivery stages. Some of these complications are common and unavoidable, such as many breach births, babies that have difficulty in the birth canal and babies born with twisted umbilical cords. However, a tragic number of these are the result of preventable medical errors.

The most common cause of birth injury is an improperly performed cesarean section. A significant portion of other birth injuries take place as a result of induced births or a health care provider's failure to prepare for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After C-section). Doctors, nurses and other health professionals may also use excessive or inappropriate force during the delivery, causing a range of trauma to the baby such as bruising or even brain injury.

The symptoms of a birth injury vary depending on the severity of the trauma. Some symptoms become evident immediately after the birth, while others lay dormant until the child is older. Symptoms can range from mild and difficult to notice, to lifelong and debilitating such as a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy. In some cases, a birth injury may even cause the death of an infant or child.

Symptoms of birth injury that are often immediately evident after the birth include:
- Cuts or bruises anywhere on the baby's body
- Paralysis of the baby's extremities or facial features
- Bruising, lacerations or swelling on the baby's scalp
- A bluish tint to the baby's skin and lips
- The development of epilepsy between a 24 to 48 hour period following the birth
- A diagnosis of Erb's Palsy or Cerebral Palsy

Symptoms of birth injury that often appear once the child is older include:
- Lack of coordination
- Unsteadiness or shakiness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty with fine motor skills
- Excessive drooling
- Overall poor development of the child

Unfortunately for many families, birth injury lawsuits make up a large percentage of medical malpractice cases. Parents or guardians are often forced to obtain a birth injury lawyer in order to secure the income necessary to pay for the child's medical expenses resulting from the birth injury. Parents may also be inclined to press charges for the purpose of holding health care workers accountable for their actions and preventing further birth injuries from occurring.

A significant portion of the birth injury cases have involved factors that should have been thoroughly prepared for by the health practitioners involved in the birth. If you think your child has suffered from a birth injury as a result of medical negligence or medical malpractice, we recommend you contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible.

Article Tags: Birth Injuries, Birth Injury

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