Examples of Severe Birth Trauma

The difficulties babies face after birth trauma can take many forms. This can make it hard for parents to recognize when their child’s health condition is the result of medical negligence.

Some of the most common severe infant health conditions are nearly always the result of medical negligence. Knowing this makes it much easier to recognize when it’s time to contact a birth trauma attorney.

If any of these birth trauma examples sound like something you and your family have experienced, you might be eligible to recover compensation.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that refers to a group of neurological disorders. Any of these conditions can have a profound impact on movement, motor skills, and muscle development. Cerebral palsy often occurs due to oxygen deprivation at birth.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a type of infant brain damage. It occurs when there’s an issue with blood and oxygen supply to the infant's brain. HIE is often a risk when medical staff fail to monitor and respond to the infant’s oxygen levels. It can be a particular risk when the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the child’s neck.

Common outcomes include impaired cognitive development, neurological issues, and significant developmental delays.

Skull Fractures/Brain Injuries

Infant brain injuries are often related to insufficient blood or oxygen supply to the brain. Sometimes, however, these injuries happen because the infant suffers physical trauma at the hands of the delivery team.

When a doctor tries to pull the infant free of the birth canal using instruments like forceps, there’s a risk of fracturing the infant’s skull, which can in turn result in lasting brain damage.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are less common than brain injuries, but they can nonetheless occur during the delivery process. A serious spinal cord injury can lead to permanent full or partial paralysis. These injuries are most common in challenging births when there’s difficulty extracting the infant from the birth canal.

Facial Paralysis/Nerve Damage

When an infant’s face sustains pressure from the birth canal or forceps use, they can suffer facial nerve damage, often resulting in facial paralysis. This type of injury is usually temporary but can be permanent if the damage is severe enough.

Long-Term Consequences of Severe Birth Trauma

Severe birth trauma has a profound lifelong impact on both the injured child and their family. The costs of caring for a child with a severe birth injury can be exorbitant. In addition to medical procedures, the child may need special education, costly medical devices, and long-term assistive care.

A severe birth injury can also take a heavy emotional toll on parents, siblings, and grandparents. Birth injury compensation can help offset the emotional impacts as well as the financial costs.

FAQ

Are These Birth Trauma Examples the Only Types of Birth Injuries?

Birth injuries can take many forms. While the examples listed here are some of the most common types, they’re by no means the only ones. Any time you suspect a birth injury, you should contact a lawyer to discuss your concerns.

What Should I Do if One of These Birth Trauma Examples Happened to My Child?

If any of these birth injury examples sound like what you and your family have experienced, contact a qualified birth injury attorney immediately. A lawyer will help you understand your options for obtaining medical malpractice compensation.

How Long Do I Have to Contact a Lawyer About Birth Trauma Compensation?

You should get in touch with a lawyer as soon as you discover that your child has suffered a birth injury.

You generally have three years to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in South Carolina. Where a state-owned hospital or clinic is involved, the time is shortened to two years.

However, contacting a lawyer sooner rather than later increases the likelihood of a positive outcome.