Facts You May Not Know About Birth Injuries

Birth injuries are the result of damage to the tissues and organs of a newly delivered child and are often caused by physical pressure or trauma during childbirth.  There are several types of birth injuries.  There are brain-related injuries, muscle-related or physical injuries, injuries from infection during pregnancy, and injuries that occur during delivery.  The side effects of birth injuries can be temporary or permanent and vary in degree of severity depending on each child’s individual circumstances.

Brain-related birth injuries are often a result of a lack of oxygen in the brain.  The leading brain-related injury in relation to birth trauma is cerebral palsy.  Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that is caused by a non-progressive brain injury or malformation that occurs when the child’s brain is under development.  Cerebral palsy can develop after maternal infections, oxygen deprivation, infant stroke, and infant infection.  There is currently no cure for cerebral palsy.  In many cases, cerebral palsy could have been prevented with proper medical care.

Cerebral palsy can occur if a physician fails to monitor fetal distress, fails to treat maternal infections, fails to carry out an emergency C-section, fails to treat a prolapsed umbilical cord, or fails to correctly use birth-assisting tools.  More than 90 percent of cerebral palsy cases involve damage to the brain prior to delivery.  In many cases, the infant has total loss of muscle control as cerebral palsy effects communication between the brain and muscle groups.  Other complications include intellectual impairment, seizures, and problems with hearing or vision.

Muscle-related birth injuries are often the result of medical malpractice.  Lacerations, bruises, broken bones, and skull fractures can all cause the infant to experience limited movement or paralysis.  Infection during pregnancy, though passed to the infant from the mother, are often preventable with proper physician care.  Tests should be performed throughout pregnancy to detect and treat dangerous maternal infections.

Birth injuries that occur during delivery are common.  Misuse of forceps and other birth-assisting tools, incorrect medication administration, and mishandling of the infant can all result in serious birth injury.  Infant stress and hypertension due to a delivery mishandled by a physician can cause infant birth injuries as well.  Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn, the failure of a newborn to properly perform blood circulation, is linked to misuse of commonly prescribed antidepressants during pregnancy.

If your child experienced a birth injury or is suddenly displaying systems of a birth injury, the experienced legal team at Bey & Associates is here to help.  Bey & Associates, Atlanta, GA cerebral palsy lawyer, is dedicated to helping clients who have suffered a birth injury due to medical malpractice and will help you fight for your legal rights.  Contact us today for more information and a free zero-obligation evaluation of your case.