Welcoming a new baby into the world should be a joyous occasion, but sometimes, unexpected challenges can turn happiness into concern. Birth injuries impact not only your newborn but you as well. It can be emotionally, physically and psychologically draining to have to deal with birth injuries stemming from medical negligence. These injuries can range from mild to severe, impacting your newborn’s quality of life.
4 common types of birth injuries
When a child suffers an injury during birth due to the medical team’s carelessness, it is both heartbreaking and frustrating. Understanding the common types of birth injuries can help parents identify potential negligence:
- Brachial plexus injuries: This injury happens when the health care staff improperly pulls the baby’s neck and shoulders during delivery, damaging nerves that control arm and hand movements.
- Cerebral palsy: This condition often results from a lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain during delivery and affects muscle tone, movement and motor skills.
- Fractures: Bones, such as the clavicle or collarbone, might break during challenging deliveries.
- Perinatal asphyxia: This serious condition occurs if the baby does not receive enough oxygen before, during or just after birth, leading to potential physical and neurological issues.
These birth injuries can be caused by medical negligence, which may include failure to detect fetal distress or misusing birthing tools during vacuum or forceps delivery.
Actions for parents suspecting medical negligence
Realizing that your child’s birth injury may result from medical negligence requires immediate and assertive actions. You may ask for a second medical opinion and confirm the extent of the injury and gather medical evidence, including the findings of another healthcare professional.
Record details about the delivery and any symptoms or injuries your child experiences. If you wish to file a lawsuit against the hospital, you may seek help from legal professionals who may increase your chances of securing your child’s necessary care and support.