What are the most common birth injuries?

Giving birth to a newborn baby is often one of the most special times of parents’ lives. Unfortunately, there are times when the birth does not go to plan and an injury occurs. When this results from the negligence of a trusted medical provider, it can be extremely traumatic for both parent and child.

Understanding the types of birth injuries that could occur can help parents be aware of what to look for. The following are some of the most common birth injuries associated with medical malpractice.

Facial paralysis

Some obstetricians use forceps or vacuums to assist with the birth process, especially during a long labor. When a doctor puts too much pressure from those tools on a baby’s face, paralysis can occur. The baby may not be able to move the affected half of the face, such as opening or closing the eye.

Cerebral palsy

This injury is most often caused by damage to the brain during birth. Babies with cerebral palsy may have weak muscles and poor motor development. This injury is often caused by a failure by medical professionals to provide adequate monitoring of a mother during labor or to provide monitoring of fetal distress.

Brachial plexus

These nerves that extend from the spine to the neck, arms, hands and shoulder can become injured due to shoulder dystocia. It can lead to a mild temporary disability to full paralysis of the affected side.

No one wants to think about the possibility of a birth injury, but parents should be on the lookout should they have concerns that their doctor was negligent.