A birth injury is harm that occurs during the birth process. A parent may not know right away that their baby has suffered an injury. Here are the symptoms of birth injuries.
Symptoms of Birth Injuries
- Difficulty feeding, abnormal drooling
- Excessive crying, high-pitched crying, crying with an arched back
- Facial paralysis, no movement on the side of the face when crying
- Visible bruising
- Swelling
- Raised lump on the baby’s head
- Jaundice
- Not flexing or rotating an arm
- Not breathing immediately at birth
- Red discoloration around the eyes
- Hand curled in a claw shape
- Not responding to visual or auditory signals
- Low oxygen levels or heart rate
- Missing developmental milestones for sitting, standing, walking, and crawling
- Poor muscle control and coordination
- Intellectual delays
- Stiffness or looseness
- As the child grows, poor grasping of utensils and cups
How do I know if my baby has a birth injury?
Any abnormal appearance or behavior may indicate that your baby has a birth injury. In addition, if anything unusual happened during childbirth or if the child needed special medical attention during birth, there is an increased likelihood of a birth injury. To know if your baby has a birth injury, seek immediate medical attention.
What to do if you suspect your baby has a birth injury?
If you suspect that your baby has a birth injury, seek emergency medical attention. Some injuries are life-threatening. Prompt medical care is critical for your child. It also documents the existence and severity of the injury.
How do I recognize a birth injury?
To recognize a birth injury, look for abnormal behaviors. If your child seems unusually fussy or they do not eat or move normally, something may be wrong. Visible injuries are an indicator, along with a floppy appearance, weakness, and paralysis. If anything unusual happened during the birth process, be vigilant of warning signs. If you have concerns, seek prompt medical attention for a professional evaluation.
Causes of Birth Injuries
A birth injury may be the result of medical negligence. Some examples of negligence that may cause birth injuries include:
- Not making a care plan for a high-risk delivery
- Responding too slowly when there are signs of distress
- Poor monitoring and not taking action when problems arise
- Medication mistakes and errors
- C-section errors
- Delivery instrument errors with forceps and vacuum extractors
- Ignoring maternal medical conditions
- Oxygen deprivation
- Failing to act quickly in an emergency during childbirth
- Overuse of force
Can my child receive financial compensation for a birth injury?
If your baby suffers a birth injury because of medical malpractice, they may receive financial compensation. The question is why the birth injury occurred. If it results from inadequate medical care based on reasonable, prevailing standards of care, the child may qualify for financial compensation.
Some birth injuries qualify for medical malpractice compensation; others do not. The determining factor is whether the injury was preventable with reasonable care. Even newborns have the right to professional, reasonable medical care. Their care providers must be adequately trained.
Healthcare providers are not necessarily liable for a poor outcome – they are responsible for what they can prevent using reasonable care and skill. The harm must be the result of the unreasonable action or lack of action on the part of the medical professional.
How can an attorney help with a birth injury?
If you see symptoms of birth injuries in your child, the first thing to do is seek medical treatment. Ensure that your child is medically stable. Create a care plan for their well-being.
Then, an attorney can help you determine if the case qualifies for compensation. If the case meets the standards of medical malpractice, they can assist you with the steps to pursue compensation. They ensure that you have the evidence to make your claim a success and maximize compensation.
Birth Injury Attorneys
At Bobby Jones Law, our birth injury lawyers know how devastating a birth injury can be. We are a reputable and highly experienced law firm representing clients throughout South Carolina. Let us help you investigate, understand the law, move forward, and advocate for your child. If you have questions about your child’s symptoms and whether they qualify for compensation, contact us today for a free consultation.
