Most Common Signs of Medical Malpractice in Birth Injuries

A birth injury occurs when a medical professional makes a mistake. This could include failing to notice varying signs of birth defects or failing to react adequately to those signs.

Don’t go without understanding the signs of medical malpractice when it comes to your children. A medical malpractice lawyer at the Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo will represent you during your venture into the legal world to protect your children.

Causes of a Birth Injury

Though many birth injuries may be due to medical malpractice, there are also situations in which an injury may be caused by the size of the child or the position of the baby during their birth. A baby more than 8 pounds and 13 ounces may be more likely to sustain a birth injury.  

The mother’s condition may also impact the child’s health. A mother over the recommended healthy weight for their size and age also may be more likely to result in complications for the baby. If the size and shape of the mother’s pelvis are unfit for a child to go through natural childbirth, doing so may result in injuries to the baby.

Prolonged labor may be more likely to result in a child’s injury during his or her birth. The more difficult the birthing process for the mother, the more likely a child may sustain birthing injuries. A baby born prematurely, before 37 weeks, is also more likely to be at risk for injury during the birthing process. 

Births can be complex processes, and injuries can happen at any time. That’s why watching for signs of a birth injury caused by negligence is so important. Talk to your lawyer if you’re not sure. 

Symptoms of a Birth Injury

You should always be prepared to look for symptoms of injury after your child is born. Keep in mind the following symptoms after the birth of your baby:

• Seizures within forty-eight hours of birth
• Need for CPR or a breathing tube after delivery
• Inability to breathe directly after delivery
• Loose or limp arms
• Bruising, swelling, or abrasions on the baby’s head, face, or shoulders

If your child is injured during birth, some symptoms may not be present until years later. When you’re unsure whether your child’s injuries are a result of medical malpractice, you should also consider looking at the following symptoms in the months or years following their birth:

• Poor balance
• Poor coordination
• Delayed motor skills development
• Muscle spasms
• Paralysis
• Lack of depth perception

These symptoms may occur for a variety of reasons, such as a medical professional making a mistake. If you believe your child may have suffered due to a mistake, a medical professional may be guilty of medical negligence. You should consider filing a complaint against your healthcare provider with the guidance of a medical malpractice attorney. 

Common Birth Injuries

Some types of birth injuries are more common than others. The following are considered the most common birth injuries based on information we have compiled from medical institutes:

• Brachial Palsy – This is an injury to the nerves of the arms and hands. This is often a result of difficulty delivering a baby’s shoulder.
• Bruising – Some babies may have bruises on the head or face due to issues with baby delivery. This may be the result of forceps used during delivery.
• Paralysis – Pressure on a baby’s face during delivery may result in facial paralysis. This could also be a result of the use of forceps during delivery.
• Fractures – Complications with the delivery may result in varying fractures of bones. In some cases, this is because the doctor didn’t take the proper care needed to avoid an injury.
• Caput Succedaneum – This is the swelling of soft tissue on the baby’s scalp, frequently occurring due to the way the baby travels through the birth canal. 
• Cephalohematoma – This is when there is an area of bleeding between the skull bone and its covering, typically appearing as a lump on the baby’s head.

Take on Your Medical Malpractice Case with an Attorney

If a West Palm Beach County healthcare provider has been negligent during the birth of your child, you deserve compensation. Our team is here to help you get what you deserve.

Serving Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, and all of Palm Beach County, the lawyers at the Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo are here to represent your case. Give us a call at 561-659-6366 or fill out our online contact form for more information.