What Are the Most Common Causes of Birth Injuries?
For expecting parents, there is no greater joy than finally being able to welcome their newborn baby into the world after months of waiting and planning. However, sometimes, this moment of joy is cut short by a birth injury caused by a negligent medical professional. Despite the fact that great strides have been made in science and medicine, birth injuries are, unfortunately, common occurrences and a very real concern for many parents.
If your baby sustained a birth injury during the delivery process, contact a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible to ensure you are able to obtain fair and just compensation.
Below are some of the most common causes of birth injuries:
- Head Trauma: One of the most common causes of birth injuries is trauma to the head during the delivery process, which can result in damage to the brain, nervous system, and cause hematomas. This type of injury most frequently lead to cerebral palsy, an incurable, lifelong disability that causes physical and developmental delays.
- Forcible Delivery: Some deliveries are difficult and require more effort than a mother is capable of giving. To assist with the labor process, a doctor will have to decide whether to use forceps, a vacuum, or forced pressure. If not performed properly, these methods can increase the risk of an injury to the baby, including brachial plexus injuries and Erb’s palsy, which can impact the child’s mobility or even lead to paralysis.
- Delayed Delivery: Labor is a traumatic process and, when complications arise, it is critical that they be resolved quickly to prevent or avoid further injury or illness. Some of the most common complications that could potentially come up during the delivery process include macrosomia (a large baby), cephalopelvic disproportion (the mother’s pelvis is too small for the infant), breech, or other types of maternal illnesses. A delay in delivery can pose a risk to not only the infant, but to the mother as well.
- Oxygen Deprivation: When a baby is deprived of oxygen, this can lead to Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), causing the brain tissue to die. If the issue is not resolved and the infant is not delivered quickly, the baby can suffer permanent brain damage. Oftentimes, this type of injury develops in the womb, which is why proper monitoring of the infant and mother is critical for immediate diagnosis and treatment.
Birth injuries are largely preventable, so if you believe your baby was injured at the hands of a negligent medical professional, you need to seek legal guidance as soon as possible.
Birth Injury Attorneys in Las Vegas
At Shook & Stone in Las Vegas, our birth injury attorneys understand the difficulties parents face when their baby suffers a birth injury at the hands of a medical professional. Oftentimes, these injuries are life-altering and will require costly medical care and treatment for many years to come. You should not have to be burdened by the mistakes of another party. Let us fight for compensation on behalf of you and your family.
Get started on your birth injury case today and contact Shook & Stone at 702-570-0000 to request your free initial case evaluation with one of our knowledgeable attorneys.