Birth Injuries
Many people define a birth injury or birth trauma as a physical injury to an infant that is simply part of being born. While many injuries are what the definition says, many others are not. The ones that are not “simply part of being born” are frequently due to a mistake made by a doctor or midwife or nurse at some point during the pregnancy or during labor. There are many types of birth injuries that all have different causes.
One thing doctors and parents need to be aware of is the size of their baby. Babies that are large or have a high birthweight frequently have problems being born. One problem that can come from this is Erb’s Palsy. Erb’s Palsy can vary in its severity but generally has an effect on the baby’s ability to move an arm. This is because during birth, the baby’s nerves leading from its spine to its shoulder and down the arm were damaged in some way. A lot of the time, this condition is easily repaired by time; however, sometimes the damage is irreparable.
Another problem with a large birthweight baby is that the baby can get stuck. While the baby is stuck, he or she can have the oxygen flow restricted or stopped completely. This can amount to brain damage. When babies get stuck or aren’t moving, the doctors frequently have to resort to forceps to extract the baby. This can result in bruising to the head or injured facial bones.
Cerebral Palsy is another potential birth. While the condition isn’t fully understood, it is known that much of the time the condition is caused by an error during pregnancy or during birth. This condition is particularly common in babies born with a low birthweight. Cerebral Palsy affects a baby’s development for the rest of his or her life. It is generally thought to be caused by damage to the part of the brain that controls movement. While the condition will not get worse as time goes on, it can result in additional complications.
Facial paralysis is another common birth injury. This one is due more to the pressures on the face while being born. The nerves in the face are damaged which results in the baby not being able to move one side of his or her face. The condition generally heals on its own within a few weeks but sometimes, when the nerve is torn and not merely bruised, surgery is necessary.
If you would like more information concerning birth injuries, please visit http://lakegenevapersonalinjurylawyer.com/lake_geneva_medical_malpractice_lawyer.aspx
Joseph Devine
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