Types of Birth Injury

What is a birth injury exactly? The first thought that comes to mind when a person thinks about birth injuries is when a pregnant mom-to-be has a slip and fall or a car accident. In reality, a birth injury is any kind of damaged during the birthing process.

It is very common for a birth injury to happen when a baby is transitioning through the birth canal. During the birthing process several babies have endured minor injuries. At times, a newborn’s bones are broken or nerves damaged during birth, but this doesn’t occur frequently. Regardless of the birthing injury a newborn endures, discovering your infant has been injured is devastating for a mom.

Back in 2006, there were 368 out of 2,073, significant birthing injuries from 19 states, according to the Expanded Health Data From the New Birth Certificate that were confirmed by 58 National Vital Statistics Reports. Delivery doctors should be held responsible for nothing injuries regardless of how minor or severe.

Here are a few common birth injuries:

Fractured bones is a common birthing accident. A newborn can experience fractured or broken bones during the delivery process. One good example of a fractured bone, in newborns, is a fractured collar bone.

This type of birthing injury occurs by a variety of pressure during birth. A Subconjunctival Hemorrhage is described as bursting of a blood vessel in a newborn’s eye. The injury forms a bright red spot on the eye area.

Cerebral Palsy is described as lack of development of motor skills, weak muscles and muscle spasms. Even though there are medicinal breakthroughs, there is currently not a known cure.

Facial Paralysis is when the facial nerve is permanently or temporarily damaged. This birthing injury is when a newborn experiences lack of control over his or her facial muscles. Facial Paralysis is evident when a baby cries.

A spinal cord injury occurs when there is a meningeal tear, severe cord/nerve damage or the use of forceps. These birthing injuries are considered more traumatic than most birth injuries.

This birth injury involves bleeding in the skull. The bleeding is located below the two layers of the brain covering, known as the subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Cephalohematoma is a known birthing injury that is not as severe like most birth injuries because it is not harmful to the newborn. This kind of injury is a collection of blood that is formed underneath the skull bone.

Brachial Plexus Injuries is a birth injury that is described as damage to the bundle of nerves that are located on the upper spine that transmits through the neck, shoulder, arm, and then the hand.

This kind of nerve damage can result in mild temporary or severe and permanent. More severe cases can actually cause an infant to become completely paralyzed.

No mom anticipates her newborn to experience a birthing injury. If you are a mom who has a baby that was injured at birth, you may be entitled to receive compensation.

For a free, no-obligation consultation, contact Anzalone Law Firm PLLC at: 603.548.3797.