Welcoming a new baby is a joyful and transformative experience. However, complications during labor and delivery can sometimes result in the tragedy of birth injuries, which can range from mild and temporary to severe and life-altering.
It’s crucial that parents and healthcare professionals are able to recognize the signs of a birth injury early and seek appropriate medical care and, in cases of malpractice or negligence, legal support, and compensation to ensure their child receives the best possible start in life.
What Is a Birth Injury?
A birth injury refers to any physical harm or trauma that a newborn experiences during labor, delivery, or immediately after being born. These types of injuries can be caused by natural complications or medical errors, like delayed interventions, misuse of delivery tools, or failure to properly monitor a baby’s condition.
Birth injuries are different than birth defects, which are usually caused by genetic or environmental factors during pregnancy. Birth injuries are trauma that occurs during or immediately after childbirth.
Early Signs of Birth Injuries
Many signs of a birth injury become apparent soon after delivery. These symptoms may range from physical abnormalities to unusual behaviors.
Physical Signs
Physical indicators of birth injuries are often noticeable immediately following birth.
These may include:
- Bruising or Swelling: Contusions or swollen areas on a baby’s head, face, or body can indicate that they experienced trauma during delivery.
- Broken Bones: Fractures, often in the collarbone, happen frequently during more difficult deliveries. Babies may cry excessively or show extreme discomfort when moved.
- Asymmetrical Movement: Limited movement on one side of the body could indicate nerve or muscle damage.
- Weak Grip: An unusually weak grip or inability to grasp objects may suggest nerve damage in the hand or arm.
- Abnormal Muscle Tone: Limbs that seem stiff or floppy can be signs of an underlying neurological issue that was caused by a birth injury.
Behavioral Signs
Significant changes in a baby’s behavior could also be an indicator of birth injury.
Watch for:
- Excessive Crying: Babies who scream or cry excessively and are inconsolable may be experiencing pain from an injury.
- Difficulty Feeding: Trouble sucking, swallowing, or latching can signal damage to muscles or nerves.
- Seizures: A newborn experiencing seizures is a serious sign of possible brain injury and a cause for immediate medical attention.
- Unusual Sleep Patterns: Persistent difficulty sleeping or unusual lethargy may indicate an underlying issue.
Later Signs of Birth Injury
Some symptoms of birth injuries may not be recognizable for weeks, months, or even years after a child is born. Delayed signs of injury are often developmental or physical in nature.
Developmental Delays
Developmental milestones, like sitting, crawling, and walking, are important indicators of a child’s growth. Delays in reaching these milestones may suggest birth injuries. For example:
- Motor Skills Delays: A child’s difficulty in moving, grasping, or coordinating the movement of their limbs can be an indicator of nerve or brain damage.
- Speech and Language Delays: Trouble babbling or forming words could point to neurological or cognitive impairments.
Persistent Health Issues
Ongoing health problems that continue beyond the newborn period (first 28 days) can sometimes be warning signs of a birth injury.
These include:
- Ongoing Feeding Problems: Persistent difficulty with feeding or gaining weight can be an indicator of an underlying issue.
- Vision or Hearing Issues: Babies showing delayed responses to visual or auditory signals can suggest some type of sensory damage.
- Behavioral Problems: Frequent tantrums, focusing difficulties, or extreme hyperactivity may be a later result of neurological trauma sustained during birth.
Common Conditions Resulting from Birth Injuries
A number of ongoing medical conditions have been directly linked to birth injuries. It’s important for parents to be familiar with these conditions so they can recognize potential signs and seek appropriate medical care.
- Cerebral Palsy: Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders affecting movement, posture, and muscle tone. It often results from oxygen deprivation or brain trauma during birth. Symptoms include stiff muscles, difficulty coordinating movements, and delays in motor skill development.
- Brachial Plexus Injury: This nerve injury affects the arms and hands, causing weakness, numbness, or paralysis. Brachial Plexus injuries, including Erb’s palsy or Klumpke’s palsy, often occur due to delivery difficulties involving shoulder dystocia.
- Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE): HIE happens when the brain lacks adequate oxygen during birth. It can lead to seizures, developmental delays, or long-term neurological impairments.
- Intracranial Hemorrhage: Bleeding in the brain can result from the improper use of delivery tools or prolonged labor. Symptoms include seizures, lethargy, and difficulty feeding.
Parents should consult a pediatrician immediately if they notice any signs of a potential birth injury. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for addressing the injury and minimizing long-term complications.
Doctors may use imaging tests, such as MRIs or CT scans, and developmental assessments to determine the extent of the injury and recommend treatment options.
Legal Options for Families
If medical malpractice or negligence played a role in your child’s birth injury, you might be entitled to compensation. Consulting with a birth injury attorney can help you understand your legal options and pursue a claim to cover medical expenses, therapy, and other related costs.
At Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC, our attorneys can gather evidence, consult medical experts, and build a strong case to support your claim for maximum compensation.
Caring for a child with a birth injury can be challenging, but support is available. Early intervention services, physical therapy, and specialized education programs can help your child reach their full potential.
Making sure that your child gets timely medical care and support depends greatly on your ability as a parent to recognize the signs of a birth injury in infants, especially after leaving the hospital. Being watchful for physical and behavioral symptoms can help you address any potential issues as early as possible and seek treatment for them.
If you suspect that medical negligence or malpractice led to your baby’s birth injuries, taking legal action can help provide the resources you’ll need to offer the best possible care for your child and family.