Common birth injuries
A birth injury is a physical injury suffered by an infant during the birthing process. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), nearly 7 birth injuries occur out of 1,000 births in the U.S., or approximately 30,000 per year.
The most common birth injuries are listed below.
Cerebral palsy:
Cerebral palsy is a general group of disorders that negatively affect a child’s:
- Motor skills
- Speech
- Learning
- Involuntary movements
Congenital cerebral palsy refers to a form of the disorder present at birth.
Erb’s palsy:
Also called brachial plexus palsy, this condition results in arm and hand paralysis caused by damaged nerves.
Caput succedaneum:
Caput succedaneum is a swelling of an infant’s scalp that usually occurs during a difficult, head-first delivery.
Cephalohematoma:
This is bleeding which occurs under one of the cranial bones. It usually appears as a raised lump on a baby’s head a few hours after birth.
Bruising/forceps marks:
This type of injury is usually the result of trauma from passing through the birth canal and contacting the mother’s pelvic bones or the use a doctor’s forceps during delivery.
Subconjunctival hemorrhage:
Broken blood vessels in the eyes of a baby is known as a sunbconjunctival hemorrhage. It is identified by a bright red band around one or both of the irises.
Facial paralysis:
A baby’s facial nerves can be damaged during birth by pressure or forceps, resulting in facial paralysis. Bruised nerves can heal on their own, while torn nerves may require surgery.
Fractures:
The most common fractures to a newborn baby are of the clavicle (collar bone). Fractures often occur during a difficult or breached delivery.
Birth injury lawyer in Pittsburgh & Erie, PA
Many birth injuries are the result of natural causes such as a large baby or a baby born prematurely. In many cases, a child is born breeched or complications arise during a long or difficult labor. However, sometimes a birth injury can be attributed to negligent care by medical professionals. If this can be proven under birth injury laws, a family may be eligible to receive compensation for:
- Present and future medical care and rehabilitation
- Special needs for nursing and education
- Future lost earnings
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
The McClelland Law Group is an experienced Pittsburgh birth injury law firm
