Welcoming a new baby into your home can be one of your life’s most exciting and fulfilling moments. While most people understand that there are childbirth risks, your doctors and medical professionals should take all appropriate precautions to prevent severe or life-threatening injuries.
When it comes to birth injuries head injuries are among the most common. While some injuries may be mild scalp injuries, babies can also suffer skull fractures and hemorrhaging.
How skull fractures occur during delivery
Newborns have a soft skull that resists fracturing during delivery. However, if you have a difficult delivery and your medical providers use vacuum-assisted tools, your child’s chances of skull fracture increase. Likewise, the use of forceps may cause a depressed fracture.
Physicians with less experience working with pediatric patients may also miss skull fractures on a skull radiograph. Infants require a quick diagnosis of a skull fracture, mainly if the injury is severe.
How hemorrhaging occurs due to delivery
IVH bleeding occurs inside or around the brain’s ventricles. Intraventricular hemorrhage can occur for various reasons. It is most common in premature babies, infants with breathing problems and difficult delivery. Additionally, bleeding may occur if the mother has an infection or the hospital staff handles the infant roughly. Failure to diagnose an intraventricular hemorrhage can threaten your baby’s life or lead to long-term brain injuries.
While some injuries may be unavoidable or out of medical staff’s control, if you fear that your doctors acted negligently, the damages could be the hospital’s fault.