While giving birth can be stressful for families, it should also be beautiful. Unfortunately, multiple aspects can go wrong even with a competent medical support team. The family shouldn’t have to worry about potential mistakes during this precious time.
Injuries from Mistakes During Birthing Process
Giving birth is a potentially risky process for both the mother and child, so it requires a team of medical professionals to ensure smoothness. Whether in a hospital or with a midwife at home, trust in your professional help is crucial.
Examples of injuries that can occur from mistakes in the birthing process include:
Birth Hypoxia
Birth hypoxia is a medical condition in which a newborn baby suffers from oxygen deprivation during delivery. Various factors, including preexisting medical conditions, infections, respiratory problems, or heart issues can cause it. The baby’s brain and organs require a stable oxygen supply, and without it, hypoxia can occur. Delays in identifying and treating this condition can lead to severe brain damage, disability, or even death.
Some factors that can cause birth hypoxia include:
– Compression of the umbilical cord
– Inadequate blood flow to the placenta
– Maternal complications like low blood pressure or gestational diabetes
– Delivery complications such as premature birth, prolonged labor, or breech presentation
– Fetal anemia, congenital heart defects, or infections.
Cerebral Palsy
Oxygen deprivation is one of the most common causes of cerebral palsy during childbirth. When the baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen for too long, it can result in permanent brain damage. Medical professionals need to monitor the baby throughout the birthing process to prevent this from occurring. If the infant shows signs of distress, prompt action must take place.
Another cause of cerebral palsy is trauma or physical injury during the delivery of the baby. Medical professionals must take extreme care when using instruments such as forceps during delivery. Trauma to the infant’s head or neck can cause brain damage, leading to cerebral palsy.
Infections during pregnancy can also lead to cerebral palsy. Medical professionals must be proactive in testing for and diagnosing infections during pregnancy. Failure to diagnose and treat infections promptly can result in severe consequences for the newborn, including cerebral palsy.
Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s Palsy is a condition that affects the nerves surrounding a baby’s shoulder and arm, and it can occur during a difficult delivery, especially during a vaginal delivery. During the process, the nerves in the infant’s neck and shoulder can be compressed and stretched, leading to damage or even tearing. As a result, the baby may have limited range of motion, muscle weakness, or even paralysis in the affected arm. Sadly, the condition can be permanent, and if left untreated, it can lead to nerve damage, muscle contracture, and other complications.
There are several causes of Erb’s Palsy, including the use of excessive force during delivery, breech position delivery, a prolonged or obstructed second stage of labor, and shoulder dystocia, among others. These factors can make it challenging for the baby to move through the birth canal, which can lead to nerve injury. In addition, medical malpractice and negligence can also contribute to the development of Erb’s Palsy, including inadequate prenatal care, improper use of birthing tools, and lack of timely medical intervention in case of complications.
Brachial Palsy
Brachial Palsy is a condition that affects the nerves that provide movement and sensation to the arms and hands. The nerves that are usually involved are the brachial plexus nerves, which originate from the neck and run down to the arms. The condition causes weakness or even paralysis of the affected arm and, in some cases, affects the functionality of the hand and fingers. About one or two out of every thousand babies born may suffer brachial palsy. There are many possible causes of brachial palsy, including:
– Excessive stretching of the baby’s neck or shoulders during delivery due to pulling, twisting, or bending.
– Head-first delivery or breech presentation, where the arms of the baby get wedged behind the head or shoulders.
– Complications during a difficult delivery include the baby’s shoulders getting stuck, a prolonged second stage of labor, or shoulder dystocia.
– In very rare cases, brachial palsy may be caused by injuries to the baby’s nerves due to pressure on the head or trauma during the delivery.
Brain Injuries from Excessive Pressure
Brain injuries from excessive pressure can occur for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the baby may be too large to pass through the birth canal naturally, necessitating the use of forceps or a vacuum to help facilitate delivery. In other cases, the baby may become stuck in the birth canal, causing medical professionals to exert extra pressure to deliver the baby.
Regardless of the underlying cause, excessive pressure during childbirth can cause a variety of brain injuries, including bleeding in the brain, skull fractures, and nerve damage. Unfortunately, these injuries can have long-term effects on the baby’s development and overall quality of life.
Don’t Let a Birth Injury Take Over Your Life
Medical malpractice during childbirth can lead to serious consequences, including lifelong disabilities and brain damage in babies. If parents suspect that their child’s brain injury resulted from medical malpractice, it is crucial to speak to qualified attorneys for legal help. These attorneys can assist in pursuing compensation for the child’s pain, suffering, medical expenses, and other related costs. Raising awareness about the different forms of medical malpractice causing brain injuries during childbirth is key to ensuring the prevention of such devastating consequences.
At Gallon, Takacs, & Boissoneault, we have experienced birth injury lawyers dedicated to fighting for you. We understand the trauma and difficulty associated with birth injuries and are here to assist. f you or a loved one has experienced a birth injury due to medical malpractice, please contact us for more information.
Kevin Boissoneault, is the President and Managing Partner of GT&B. He began his career at GT&B in 1992 and has built the Personal Injury section into one of the strongest and most successful firms in the region. His hard work and dedication as a compelling trial attorney and litigator has won many verdicts and settlements for his clients and their families. Kevin’s commitment to protecting those who have been injured through accident or negligence has brought justice for thousands of clients.
