Mom with her newborn child, birth injuries.

Common Types of Birth Injuries Caused by Medical Negligence

While the vast majority of births are safe, accidents still happen more often than we’d like to admit. Over 3 babies are injured every hour in the United States alone. From cerebral palsy to broken skulls, these injuries could have serious long-term effects that could change a child’s life permanently.

As a parent, you deserve to seek answers and justice for your child’s injuries. Learn more about how to spot the most common birth injuries and when medical negligence may be a contributing factor.

Most Common Types of Birth Injuries

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is often caused by oxygen deprivation to the baby’s brain during labor or delivery. It’s one of the most common childhood disabilities in the United States, and it’s generally caused by medical staff failing to respond to fetal distress in time. It’s a lifelong condition, and depending on the severity, a child could experience:

  • Delayed motor skills
  • Brain damage
  • Unusual walking style
  • Difficulty with movements
  • Speech and language challenges
  • Difficulty with precise movements

Erb’s Palsy

Erb’s palsy is a nerve injury that affects the shoulder, arm, and hand. It usually occurs when a medical professional applies excessive force during delivery. Most cases are mild, and most children recover in a few months. For severe cases, you may see long-term muscle weakness, limited mobility, or even permanent nerve damage.

Facial Paralysis

Facial paralysis may happen when someone applies pressure to a baby’s face during delivery. This happens due to the improper use of forceps or other medical equipment. While most cases aren’t long-term, others might result in permanent damage.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are rare during childbirth. However, they can be particularly severe when they happen. Suffering from these can result in partial or complete paralysis, and they’re often caused by poor handling of the child during delivery. In most cases, these injuries require lifelong care.

Fractured Bones

Collarbone or arm fractures can happen during especially difficult deliveries. This is due to excessive pressure applied during delivery. Most fractures heal with time and proper treatment. However, others may lead to long-term mobility issues if not diagnosed or managed properly.

Signs a Birth Injury May Have Been Caused by Negligence

Finding out your child has been injured isn’t something any parent wants to hear. However, not every injury is the result of negligence. Some complications are simply unavoidable even when doctors and nurses do everything by the book.

That said, there are a few signs of negligence you should keep an eye out for:

  • Delayed emergency responses
  • Slow or no reaction to fetal distress
  • Delays during obvious complications
  • Lack of informed consent
  • Improper use of delivery tools
  • Medical errors during labor

How EKJ Law Can Help Your Family

If you think your child has a birth injury, you have the right to seek justice for what happened. Our New York medical malpractice lawyers have decades of experience helping parents fight for their children’s rights. If you have any questions or want to schedule a free consultation,contact us online or at (866) 506-3694 today.