3 Common Types of Preventable Birth Injuries
A birth injury refers to an injury suffered by a baby before childbirth, during labor or delivery, or immediately after the birthing process. Depending on the type of birth injury, it can cause life-long disabilities or limitations. While some birth injuries lead to temporary health problems, others are more permanent in their nature.
While some birth injuries cannot be prevented entirely, some are preventable when medical professionals exercise due care and avoid making careless or negligent mistakes during prenatal care, labor, and delivery.
Preventing Birth Injuries During Prenatal Care
The mother’s health and medical conditions have a major impact on the health of the baby. However, a doctor must perform a series of prenatal tests to determine if the mother has any conditions that could potentially harm the baby.
Prenatal tests help identify the following maternal conditions that increase the risk of birth injuries:
- Maternal infections such as chorioamnionitis
- Fetal macrosomia
- Gestational diabetes
- Preeclampsia
- Placental abruption
- Oligohydramnios
- Polyhydramnios
Performing appropriate tests during prenatal care can also help identify several problems with the fetus, such as umbilical cord issues, abnormal heart rate, intrauterine growth restriction, and others.
Early detection and treatment of the above-mentioned maternal and fetal problems may help prevent a birth injury.
The Most Common Types of Preventable Birth Injuries
Many types of birth injuries occur because a medical professional is negligent or careless. The most common types of preventable birth injuries are:
Facial Paralysis
When there is too much pressure on the facial nerve in the baby’s face during labor or delivery, the baby can suffer facial paralysis, which is when there is no movement on one side of the face. If the nerve was torn, surgery might be necessary to treat the paralysis.
Brachial Palsy (Erb’s Palsy)
This common type of birth injury is characterized by weakness or paralysis of the arm. Brachial palsy can be caused by abnormal or difficult labor or delivery. A child can suffer brachial palsy when a doctor fails to recognize that labor or delivery is going to be complicated. Also, this type of injury can occur when a doctor pulls too hard, causing damage to a baby’s shoulder nerves.
Cerebral Palsy
A doctor’s negligence can also lead to cerebral palsy, which affects the baby’s ability to move and maintain a posture. This type of birth injury can occur when a doctor’s mistake causes brain damage to the baby during labor or delivery. Failure to diagnose or treat infections during pregnancy are a common cause of cerebral palsy.
Speak with a Skilled Birth Injury Attorney in Pennsylvania
There is nothing worse than seeing your baby injured, especially when the birth injury occurs due to the negligence of a medical professional. If you believe that your baby suffered a birth injury during or after labor or delivery, do not hesitate to contact an experienced Scranton birth injury attorney.
Your child’s birth injury could lead to long-term effects, which is why it is vital to obtain compensation by suing the negligent doctor for medical malpractice. Contact Needle Law Firm to review your particular case. Call at 570-344-1266 to schedule a consultation.
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