Just because it’s 2022 doesn’t necessarily mean there we are free from vast negligence in the healthcare system. In fact, with COVID-19 overwhelming US hospitals, certain types of hospital-related injuries are on the rise. Hospital overcrowding has led to increased patient risk across the board. Even obstetricians aren’t immune to making irreversible errors because of COVID fatigue.
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What Counts As A Birth Injury?
Roughly eight babies out of one thousand suffer some kind of injury during the birthing process. Birth injuries can be minor—from scratches and bruises—to more severe injuries. These more severe injuries range from brain damage to nerve damage and other long-term medical issues like cerebral palsy.
What Are The Most Common Types of Birth Injuries?
Usually, the most common types of birth injuries occur in three main categories—damage to the nervous system, bone fractures, and brain damage. If your infant has suffered a traumatic injury from birth, you may need to speak to a birth injury lawyer. Philadelphia to Sacramento, birth injuries are more common than many people would like to believe.
Nerve Damage from Birth Injuries
The nervous system runs all throughout the body, but the “command center” of the nervous system is in the brain and spinal cord. Nerve damage, which can cause a whole range of medical problems, usually happens when there are complications with the baby passing through the birth canal. These complications can affect a baby’s organ functioning or cause paralysis in the limbs.
Bone Fractures from Birth Injuries
A baby’s bones are delicate and not fully developed. If there are birth complications—either from doctor negligence or from natural circumstances—-a baby’s bones can break during the delivery process. The most common birth-related bone fracture is a broken collar bone, as this relatively fragile bone must fit through the vaginal canal.
Brain Damage from Birth Injuries
There are many brain injuries that can happen during the birthing process. Most brain injuries during childbirth occur because of a lack of oxygen. The brain needs a constant supply of oxygen to function correctly. If its supply of oxygen is cut off, brain tissue can start to die off fast. Brain injuries during childbirth can result in serious, lifelong medical disabilities like cerebral palsy.
The Top 10 Most Common Birth Injuries
Intracranial hemorrhage
An intracranial hemorrhage is bleeding in the brain. When this happens, the risk of brain damage is high due to the pressure the pools of blood exert on the sensitive tissues of the brain.
Brachial Plexus Injury
The brachial plexus is a grouping of nerves that bridge the spinal cord to the arms, shoulders, and hands. Damage to the brachial plexus can cause numbness, weakness, and paralysis. In the upper extremities.
Broken Bones
An infant’s bones are more delicate and less dense than their adult counterparts. Because of this greater fragility, broken bones are more likely for infants who experience negligence during birth.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is actually a group of conditions that adversely affect a person’s posture, balance, and coordination. This affects their ability to move around effectively. Cerebral palsy can result from complications during childbirth—including doctor or nurse negligence.
Cephalohematoma
During a rough or traumatic birth, blood vessels in the scalp can rupture, leading to the development of a cephalohematoma. Cephalohematomas are large red or purple raised bumps that can harden and calcify. They may require surgical removal.
Caput Succedaneum
This birth injury causes swelling of the scalp in newborn babies due to a rough or traumatic birth. While similar to Cephalohematoma, the swelling associated with caput succedaneum isn’t caused by ruptured blood vessels.
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy occurs when the brain is cut off from its oxygen supply for a while. While babies with minor HIE can recover, serious HIE can cause a number of medical complications, including death.
Subconjunctival hemorrhage
When a blood vessel breaks in a baby’s eye, it is called a subconjunctival hemorrhage. Usually, this birth injury will resolve itself, but you may need to seek medical attention for your baby if it lasts longer than two weeks.
Spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injuries can cause a host of nerve and sensory-related issues. Usually, spinal cord injuries happen because of rough or traumatic birth conditions.
Do You Need A Birth Injury Lawyer?
If your newborn has suffered a birth injury, you should consult with a birth injury lawyer to check your options. You may be able to receive compensation for damages to your child.
