Forms of Birth Injuries

Many injuries can occur during or right after birth. Unfortunately, these accidents can potentially you and your newborn pain, permanent emotional and physical damage, and a great amount of medical expense. Your child may have suffered a head injury, back injury, neck injury, or shoulder injury. However, the most common birth injuries include:

• Bruising – The use of forceps or a vacuum can cause bruising to the infants head. If forceps are not used correctly, they can cause a depression in the skull which will require surgery.
• Subconjunctival Hemorrhage – A bright red band appears around the iris of the infant’s eyes. There is no damage to the eye, and the condition should clear up in about a week.
• Caput Succedaneum – Caput Succedaneum is the severe swelling of the baby’s scalp due to vacuum extraction.The swelling usually goes down after a few days.
• Cephalohematoma – This is the bleeding between the bone and its fibrous covering which is typically seen on an infant’s head. It normally clears up and heals after a few weeks.
• Facial Paralysis – Pressure to the infant’s face during delivery or birth may injure facial nerves.If the nerves are only bruised, the paralysis may clear up in a few weeks or months. If the nerves are seriously damaged, surgery may be.
• Brachial Palsy Injuries – This is a loss of movement or a weakness in the arms caused by damage to the group of nerves around the shoulder. Depending on the severity of the damage, physical therapy and surgery may be needed.
• Fractured Bones – The most common fracture is in the collar bone.Infant’s can quickly recover if their arm is immobilized.
• Brain Injury – Oxygen deprivation can cause brain damage, seizure disorders, cerebral palsy, or mental and developmental impairment.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a type of unceasing condition that inhibits a person’s normal muscular from functioning. This condition usually occurs during an infant’s birth.

Common Causes

Cerebral palsy can be caused by a multitude of things, such as:

• a doctor’s negligence
• limited oxygen flow
• head trauma
• auto accident
• slip and fall accident

Preventions

In order to prevent cerebral palsy:

• The doctor should be educated on the handling of babies, especially during their birth.
• The doctor should also know how to properly time and diagnose the birth of the child since cerebral palsy can also occur if newborns receive little–to–no oxygen.

It is the duty and obligation of the hospital to ensure the safety of all newborns. Such negligence can be considered a breach of standard care. If a breach of standard care occurs, then the doctor and/or nurse are violating various safety codes and standards of the State.

Learn More

If your child endured any harm during birth, please click here for more information about claims involving minors.

For detailed information about the possibility of your case going to litigation, visit this page.

Contact Us

You can contact the Law Offices of Michael Cordova by calling us at (602) 265–6700, by filling out our confidential Case Evaluation From, or by using our online chat services.