When you begin your pregnancy journey, the last thing any expectant parent wants to go through is the trauma and the distress of a mishandled birth or a birth injury. When things go wrong in the delivery room not only does it ruin what should be the most wonderful moment of your lives, but it can also have devastating consequences for you and your child. From years of recovery and treatments to the possibility of your child being disabled by developing cerebral palsy or Erb’s palsy, when these kinds of issues arise because of the negligence of the people who are meant to care for you and your baby, it’s utterly heartbreaking.
Here you’ll find several examples of why you could have a birth injury case.
Brain injuries
Possibly the most devastating birth injury that could happen, brain injuries in newborns usually leave the child with permanent developmental issues as well as cognitive and mobility problems like those seen in Cerebral Palsy. The severity of these brain damages can vary; however it is still a traumatic and preventative problem. Causes of brain injuries include:
- Anoxia: this is when the baby is deprived of oxygen for several minutes. It’s this deprivation that can cause lasting damage to the child and have a lifelong impact.
- Hypoxia: again this is oxygen deprivation, specifically to the baby’s brain.
- Physical trauma: Damage to the brain caused by the improper use of medical tools such as forceps and a ventouse. This could also cause severe neck damage and have lasting complications.
Broken bones
The idea of your baby’s bones being broken as they are delivered is both terrifying and heartbreaking, however it can happen. The most common bone/s to be broken during delivery is the collarbone, while other bones include the spine, shoulder and even the skull. The cause of these breakages include:
- Improper use of instruments during delivery
- Excessive twisting and pulling during a vaginal birth
- Shoulder dystocia (read below)
Shoulder dystocia
Thankfully, this complication is rare however when it does occur if it is managed correctly then any further pain or complications can be avoided. Shoulder dystocia occurs during a vaginal birth, where the baby’s head and one shoulder is successfully delivered however the other shoulder becomes stuck behind the mothers pubic bone. Issues that can arise with shoulder dystocia include:
- Damage to the nerves in baby’s neck – resulting in Erb’s Palsy
- Hypoxia if the baby is stuck in the perineum for too long and is deprived of oxygen – potentially resulting in brain damage and/or Cerebral Palsy
- Death of the infant – in extreme, poorly handled cases
Although it is impossible to predict when shoulder dystocia occurs, due to the possibility of major complications and even death, medical teams should act quickly in order to reposition the baby and/or take the right action so the baby can be born. Caregivers should recognise the signs of shoulder dystocia and act accordingly.
If you believe you’ve been the victim of a mishandled birth then get in touch with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.