When you see your infant child for the first time, there’s a slight chance that you could see bruising on them because of the birth process. Sometimes it’s because of natural factors, but sometimes it’s the effects of malpractice.
If your infant has a head bruise, known medically as a cephalohematoma, you need to speak with a birth injury attorney to find out if your child suffered too much damage at birth. If so, our birth injury attorneys in Chandler, AZ, can help you get compensation.
What Is a Cephalohematoma?
It’s a complicated word, but what it means is a head bruise. Infant head bruising during birth is generally harmless and will go away after some time. However, it is a sign that there may be deeper damage to the brain. Besides the appearance of the bruise, your child’s head could have an abnormal bulge where the injury happened.
A cephalohematoma is caused when the very outer layer of the skull gets damaged. This does not damage the brain on its own, but it does merit further examination. Sometimes doctors use too much force to remove infants from the birth canal.
Using forceps or vacuum extraction devices raises the chances of cephalohematoma. Doctors have to grip the child by the head to pull them out, and this causes bruising. Brain damage can happen if these devices are used improperly.
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How Often does Infant Cephalohematoma Happen?
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) states that cephalohematoma happens in between 0.4% and 2.5% of all live births. Long and difficult labor and delivery using forceps or vacuum extractors raise the chances of your baby getting injured this way.
Vacuum extraction has the highest risk of causing an infant cephalohematoma. There is a 14%-16% chance of it happening, according to Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Forceps deliveries have a 2% chance.
It’s important to have your child examined if you notice abnormal swelling or bruising on them after birth. If the damage goes deeper than the outer layer of bone, your child is at risk for brain damage or may have suffered a traumatic brain injury.
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Do These Injuries Have Complications?
In most infant cephalohematomas, assuming there isn’t more serious damage, the body will reabsorb the blood over time. However, they must be monitored because there are three potential complications. These are anemia, jaundice, and infection.
Your doctor should ask to examine your child over the next few weeks if they find an infant has a cephalohematoma. However, if the bulge on your baby’s head breaks open, seek medical attention immediately. There is a risk of brain damage if an infection develops on the head of your infant.
In extremely rare cases, the injury could create an abscess. If this happens, your baby will need antibiotics and get the lump drained. If your child gets brain damage because of complications from infant cephalohematoma, you could be eligible for compensation.
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Who Is to Blame for Infant Bruising?
Making a malpractice case on bruising alone is hard. Natural childbirth pressure can bruise a baby, but it can also be caused by errors by the delivery team. Our infant cephalohematoma attorneys in Chandler, AZ, can help you seek damages if you believe malpractice caused the injury.
Many women opt for natural childbirth, but sometimes doctors try to insist upon it instead of performing a C-section. This can create a situation where an infant cephalohematoma is far more likely, especially if forceps or vacuum extraction devices are improperly used.
Other risks that raise the chances for bruising during birth include larger than average babies, giving birth to multiple babies at once, abnormal fetal presentation, and weak contractions.
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How Our Lawyers Approach These Cases
First, your child will need to be examined for other birth injuries. We would want to see if there was a skull fracture, bleeding in the skull, or neurological symptoms like seizures. X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans will reveal these injuries.
Once we understand the full scope of your child’s health, then we can start an investigation into the matter. To win, we have to prove that the injuries to your child were caused by breaching the standards of care that doctors must follow.
If we can prove that the infant cephalohematoma and other injuries could have been avoided if the defendant acted according to the standards, you will win your case and be eligible for financial compensation.
What Damages Could I Receive?
First and foremost, you can receive compensation for the medical care necessary to make your child well again. This may be more than you think, which is why you should never take an insurer’s offer for a malpractice settlement before speaking with a birth injury lawyer from our team in Chandler, AZ.
You can also get compensation for any time you missed from work dealing with your child’s injury, pain and suffering damages, and other out-of-pocket costs. If we feel you have a case, part of our job will be to calculate the full amount of economic and non-economic damages you and your child should receive.
After constructing your case, we will approach your medical team’s malpractice insurer to make a claim for compensation and fight to get you the most that we can. If they prove to be unreasonable, then we will help you achieve justice by taking the matter to court.
Speak With an Infant Cephalohematoma Attorney in Chandler Today
If you believe that the negligence of a doctor caused your child’s head bruise, then it’s time to speak with the Birth Injury Lawyers Group. You have a brief window to file your claim before certain legal deadlines, so do not delay in calling us.
Learn your legal rights and if your case may be eligible for compensation by contacting us for a free case review. You can call us at the number on your screen or reach out to us through our contact page today. Your consultation is free and without obligation.
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