Birth injuries in newborns can vary greatly. A birth injury is defined as damage that occurs as a result of physical pressure during the delivery process most often occurring as infants pass through the birth canal. Birth injury types include:
Cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, brain damage, and weakened limbs are only a few of the outcomes of these types of birth injuries.
If your child has a birth injury and you need answers and assistance, speak to a birth injury attorney near you. To speak to an attorney in your area, call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529.
What Is Horner Syndrome? It is a neurological condition caused by a disruption in the sympathetic nerves that control parts of the eye and face. When this pathway is affected, it can lead to visible changes such as a drooping eyelid, a smaller pupil, and reduced sweating on one side of the face. In many …
What is infant meningitis? It is an infection of the meninges, the thin layers that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. In babies, this condition can progress rapidly and may lead to severe complications if not treated early. Because symptoms are often subtle at first, recognizing changes in behavior or health becomes very …
Periventricular leukomalacia is a type of brain injury that affects the white matter near a baby’s brain ventricles. Also known as PVL, it is often caused by a decrease in oxygen or a reduction of blood flow. If you’re worried about what a periventricular leukomalacia diagnosis means for your baby, you might feel a sense …
The side effects of vacuum extraction delivery include scalp bruising, cephalohematoma, temporary head shape changes, nerve injuries, and jaundice. In rare cases, babies who are delivered via vacuum extraction experience skull fractures or intracranial bleeding. If you’ve become aware that your baby was delivered using a vacuum extraction, you might be concerned about potential complications …
Yes, you can take Tylenol while pregnant. Also known by the name acetaminophen, Tylenol is generally considered safe to use during pregnancy as long as it is taken as directed. That said, you should always consult your healthcare provider before taking any medication. For many pregnant people, it can be scary to take medicine intended …
Erikson’s developmental stages refer to a widely used eight-stage psychological theory taught and applied in healthcare settings. More specifically, it outlines eight stages of human development from infancy through adulthood. For many parents, this term arises during conversations about developmental delays. If your child has suffered a birth injury, these stages are less of a …
Spastic hemiplegia is a neurological disorder characterised by weakness and stiffness in the muscles on one side of the body. It is often the result of brain damage incurred during the birthing and delivery process. Managing the symptoms of spastic hemiplegia can put you and your family under enormous financial stress. If your child has …
Fetal bradycardia refers to a fetal heart rate that is lower than expected for the baby’s age in pregnancy. It can appear during ultrasound, electronic fetal monitoring, or Doppler ultrasound. Some cases are brief and harmless, while others may signal fetal distress, fetal hypoxia, congenital heart block, or issues with fetal heart rhythm that need …
Many pregnant women want to know what they can’t eat while pregnant. This is important because some foods may increase the risk of foodborne illness, harmful bacteria, or exposure to toxins like methylmercury. Certain items, such as high-mercury fish, unpasteurized milk, raw eggs, deli meats, and soft cheese, can carry risks during pregnancy. Avoiding these …
A tailbone injury during childbirth is relatively common. Research shows that about one in ten mothers may have tailbone pain after birth. Pain can come from pressure on the tailbone, trauma in the birth canal, or strain on the pelvic floor. These injuries are not always reported, but they can affect daily life. Families coping …
A mistake constitutes medical negligence during childbirth when medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, or midwives fail to provide safe care during labor and delivery, resulting in preventable harm. These errors may lead to birth trauma, spinal cord injuries, or brain damage. In such situations, you can reach out to a nationally recognized birth injury …
Many patients receive epidural injections for pain relief during childbirth. However, they sometimes cause nerve damage. Are you wondering whether you’ve suffered from this side effect? If so, know that the signs of nerve damage caused by epidural injections can include numbness, persistent back pain, tingling, weakness, or loss of bladder control. These signs can …
Knowing how common birth injuries are can help prepare you for the worst. In the U.S., up to seven of every 1,000 births result in a birth injury. With this injury rate, tens of thousands of babies suffer injuries every year. While many of these injuries are mild, there are still thousands of significant injuries …
Whether a baby can recover from lack of oxygen at birth will depend on factors such as the duration of oxygen loss, the underlying cause, and the medical care provided. Oxygen deprivation at birth, also known as birth asphyxia, can affect a newborn’s health in different ways. In some cases, a baby may recover fully, …
A vacuum delivery, also known as vacuum-assisted delivery, is a procedure in which a doctor uses a vacuum extractor to help guide a baby out of the birth canal during labor. This tool consists of a soft or rigid cup attached to the baby’s head and connected to a vacuum pump, creating suction to assist …
Fetal tachycardia causes depend on your baby’s type of tachycardia. Fetal tachycardia happens when a baby’s heart rate exceeds 180 beats per minute. Some cases of fetal tachycardia are genetic, but some cases could be prevented with medical intervention. Knowing what causes fetal tachycardia and the different types can help you know whether your baby’s …
Placental abruption happens when the placenta separates from the uterus prematurely. What causes placental abruption is typically trauma to the abdomen, but uncontrolled high blood pressure and substance abuse can also create damage that can cause separation. This is an extremely serious birth injury that could threaten the life of the fetus and the mother. …
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is when an unborn baby is not growing at the expected rate during pregnancy. Specifically, it means the baby’s estimated weight is below the 10th percentile for their gestational age. This restricted growth can lead to various health complications before and after birth. If your baby was diagnosed with IUGR during …
A brachial plexus injury is an injury to the nerves in the shoulder that control the arm and the hand. In the context of newborns, many brachial plexus injuries are caused by negligent doctors damaging the nerve cluster. Recognizing the signs of a brachial plexus injury is crucial for early intervention. As a parent, you …
Klumpke’s and Erb’s Palsy are brachial plexus injuries but affect different parts of this nerve network. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that runs from the spinal cord through the neck and into the arm. These nerves control movement and feeling in the shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers. Brachial plexus injuries occur when …
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), also known as neonatal encephalopathy or brain hypoxia, is a serious condition caused by hypoxia in newborns. It results from insufficient oxygen and blood flow to the baby’s brain. HIE can lead to significant, long-term health issues, such as cognitive impairments, cerebral palsy, hearing and vision problems, epilepsy, or even death. Brain …
Intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD), commonly referred to as stillbirth, is the term used when a fetus dies in the womb after the 20th week of pregnancy but before birth. This condition can occur due to various factors, including placental problems and genetic abnormalities. IUFD is typically diagnosed through the absence of fetal heartbeat and movement, …
Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), informally known as autism, affects how people perceive the world and socialize with others. It has a wide range of symptoms and severity. ASD is a relatively recent diagnosis, combining four other former diagnoses. The cause of ASD is unknown, but there are some correlations. Researchers proved that there is a …
Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), or autism, is a condition related to the brain that changes how a person perceives sensory input and how they interact with others. Mild cases can cause lifelong problems with social interaction. Severe cases require a lot of external support. ASD is not a birth injury, but many birth injuries can …
High muscle tone, or hypertonia, is a condition where muscles are stiff and difficult to move. This condition is caused by the disruption of signals from the brain to the nerves, telling the muscle to contract. Although high muscle tone is common in those with cerebral palsy, there are a variety of other reasons why …
