Michigan Birth Injuries - Signs Of Birth Trauma
The birth of a child can be a chaotic occasion – and amid the excitement and confusing of labor and delivery, many new parents are not completely aware of the medical treatment they and their infants are receiving. When a child suffers trauma during birth, parents are often surprised to learn that serious injuries have occurred. While some birth trauma is unpreventable, other instances are the direct result of medical negligence. When doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff fail to adequately monitor mother and baby, they may miss important warning signs of potential complications – and parents may have legal rights to pursue action against negligent medical providers.
The Stroble Law Firm, P.C. in Michigan is a full service law firm with a team of knowledgeable personal injury attorneys who are committed to obtaining the best possible financial results for our clients. Our attorneys have extensive experience in birth trauma injury claims.
Based in Bloomfield Hills, The Stroble Law Firm, P.C. represents clients across Michigan, including Macomb County, Oakland County, Warren, Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, St. Clair Shores, Mount Clemens, Utica, Roseville, Troy, Farmington Hills, Waterford, Southfield, Pontiac, Birmingham Michigan, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Hills.
Call The Stroble Law Firm, P.C. at (888) 454-0801, or contact us online for an evaluation of your claim. If there is no recovery in your case, there is no fee for our services.
Birth Trauma Injuries
Birth trauma is the primary cause of newborn injuries immediately at or following birth. Birth trauma generally falls into two main categories:
- Mechanical injuries – mechanical injuries are caused by physical force, such as the use of forceps, vacuum, or pulling on the limb of the infant to dislodge the baby from the birth canal.
- Anoxic injuries – anoxic injuries are caused by oxygen deprivation, which can lead to numerous brain injuries, including blindness, mental retardation, and other disabilities.
Mechanical injuries typically occur during the delivery, although the signs of injury are not always immediately visible. Many newborns exhibit minor bruising, so this in itself is not a sign of mechanical injuries, although substantial bruising or cuts can be a more accurate sign of birth trauma. Mechanical injuries are almost always associated with difficult deliveries that require the use of extreme measures such as forceps.
Because doctors and other hospital staff know the danger associated with difficult deliveries, they are trained to look for potential warning signs of delivery complications such as a larger than normal estimated birth weight or prior birth trauma, and if mother and baby are properly monitored these injuries can be avoided. Doctors who use forceps must also be specifically trained to avoid injuries – and some mechanical injuries occur because of a physician’s lack of experience with these tools.
Some of the more common mechanical injuries include:
- Brachial Plexus Injury – injury to the brachial plexus nerves, a collection of nerves that affect the shoulder, arm, and hand. Brachial plexus injuries can happen when the infant’s arm is tugged or injured during delivery.
- Brain trauma – physical trauma to the head caused by forceps or other extrication measures.
Anoxic injuries are much more difficult to diagnose during infancy – and they can be more difficult to clearly link with medical error, because they aren’t always visible or present right away. Some of Depending on the type and severity of anoxic injury, these may be very difficult to diagnose during infancy, and very difficult to effectively attribute to medical error. The ways in which error or malpractice can contribute to anoxic injuries include:
- Improper drug administration during labor/delivery;
- Umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s neck – while this is not always detectable, there are some signs of potential cord issues during labor that if properly monitored, should trigger hospital staff to take immediate steps such as an emergency c-section;
- Other breathing obstructions not properly monitored.
Anoxic injuries can be severe, and may include:
- Brain damage, including mental retardation;
- Blindness and other visual problems;
- Cerebral palsy.
Not all instances of birth trauma can be anticipated, but doctors and nurses are extensively trained to look for certain risk factors that may predict birth trauma. Doctors and hospital staff can avoid many situations simply by obtaining a correct medical history of the mother, monitoring both mother and baby during pregnancy and labor, and checking for signs of distress during labor and delivery.
Contact Our Birth Injury Lawyers Today
If your child suffered birth trauma or birth injury and resulting injuries – and you feel medical malpractice was to blame, you may be eligible to file a claim for damages. Compensation can help pay for your child’s medical care and therapeutic treatment. A medical malpractice attorney with experience in birth trauma claims can evaluate your situation, working with accredited medical experts to evaluate whether all healthcare standards were met.
The Stroble Law Firm, P.C. represents victims and families impacted by serious birth injuries. We have helped many victims in Michigan recover what was rightfully theirs. We can help you and your family too.
Call The Stroble Law Firm, P.C. at (888) 454-0801, or contact us online for an evaluation of your claim. If there is no recovery in your case, there is no fee for our services.
