A Firm with In-Depth Knowledge of Complex Birth Injuries
Welcoming a new baby is a moment filled with immense hope and dreams. But sometimes, due to medical negligence during labor and delivery, that joy is tragically overshadowed by a birth injury. When this happens, families are often left with overwhelming questions: What exactly happened to our child? What does this mean for their future? And what specific type of injury are we dealing with?
At Child & Birth Injury Lawyers our firm possesses extensive experience and knowledge in addressing a wide range of birth injuries caused by medical negligence. Serving clients nationally, we understand that each type of injury isn’t just a medical diagnosis; it presents unique medical, rehabilitative, and, crucially, legal challenges. Our comprehensive approach ensures that we thoroughly understand the specific nature of your child’s injury, its long-term implications, and the precise circumstances of its occurrence so we can build the strongest possible case for your family.
While the world of birth injuries is vast, we’ve dedicated decades to understanding the most common types and how they often arise from preventable medical errors. This is a partial list of the the types of birth injuries that we handle.
Brachial Plexus Injuries (Erb’s & Klumpke’s Palsy): Arm Nerve Damage
Imagine a baby’s arm or hand being weak or paralyzed. This can happen with a brachial plexus injury, which affects the nerves in the neck and shoulder that control arm and hand movement. These nerve injuries occur in about 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 births (Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons).
They often result from too much stretching or tearing of these delicate nerve roots during difficult deliveries, especially when a baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone (a complication called shoulder dystocia). When doctors use excessive force, or fail to use appropriate maneuvers to free the shoulder safely, these injuries can occur. Without early, specialized surgery, 10–30% of children suffer permanent arm weakness or even paralysis. Our firm meticulously investigates whether excessive force was applied or if safe delivery techniques were neglected, to determine if negligence played a role.
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) & Cerebral Palsy: Brain Injury from Lack of Oxygen
This is one of the most devastating types of birth injury, affecting a baby’s brain. Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow, often occurring during labor or delivery. It happens in 1–3 per 1,000 live births in developed countries (Source: World Health Organization).
HIE is a leading cause of Cerebral Palsy (CP), a lifelong condition affecting movement and muscle tone. CP affects approximately 2.3 to 3.6 out of every 1,000 children in the United States (Source: CDC). A staggering 85-90% of all cerebral palsy cases are congenital, meaning they are present at birth, often resulting from injury to the brain during childbirth. Our firm understands that HIE often stems from medical negligence, such as a failure to properly monitor fetal distress, delays in performing a C-section, or problems with oxygen supply to the baby. We delve deep into medical records to uncover if oxygen deprivation was preventable.
Cephalohematoma & Skull Fractures: Head Trauma at Birth
A cephalohematoma is bleeding that collects under a baby’s scalp bone, often appearing as a lump on the head. This happens in approximately 2.5% of prolonged, difficult vaginal deliveries. What’s less known is that as many as 1 in 4 babies (25%) with a cephalohematoma also have an underlying skull fracture (Source: Clinics in Perinatology).
These injuries are often caused by excessive pressure or trauma during delivery, especially when instruments like forceps or vacuum extractors are used improperly. While many resolve on their own, they can lead to complications like severe jaundice or, rarely, infection. In severe cases of oxygen deprivation (HIE), they can even worsen pressure inside the baby’s skull. Our firm examines how and why such force was applied, and if proper technique was followed.
Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH): Bleeding Within the Skull
This is a very serious and potentially life-threatening birth injury: bleeding within the skull. ICH can result from trauma during delivery (e.g., improper instrument use), rapid changes in head pressure, or significant oxygen deprivation. Symptoms can be alarming, including seizures, a bulging soft spot (fontanelle) on the baby’s head, and extreme lethargy. Severe hemorrhage, especially those with high ICH scores (a way doctors measure severity), carries a very high risk of death. Survivors may face permanent neurological impairments, including cerebral palsy, developmental delays, ongoing seizures, and cognitive deficits. These cases require meticulous investigation into delivery room procedures.
Spinal & Vertebral Injuries: Damage to the Backbone
These are rare but absolutely devastating injuries. They occur when too much pulling, twisting, or over-stretching is applied to the baby’s spine during difficult deliveries, particularly with breech presentations (when the baby is feet-first). Such force can damage the spinal cord itself, leading to lifelong disability, including weakness in the lower limbs, complete paralysis, or loss of sensation below the injury site. These are complex cases requiring a deep understanding of neurosurgery and obstetrics.
Facial & Soft-Tissue Lacerations: Visible Scars and Nerve Damage
While often considered less severe than brain or nerve injuries, facial and soft-tissue lacerations (cuts or tears) can have lasting impacts. Research indicates the incidence of severe lacerations during forceps delivery was 10.1% in one study, linked to factors like birth weight and how low the baby’s head was during delivery (Source: Obstetrics & Gynecology medical journals). These injuries can result in permanent scarring, facial paralysis (if a nerve is severed during the cut), feeding challenges due to nerve damage, and can even disrupt early bonding between parent and child.
Our firm’s in-depth understanding of these specific birth injuries – their various causes, their profound and complex impacts, and the standards of medical care that should have been followed – allows us to build robust legal strategies. We secure expert medical testimony and effectively advocate for the comprehensive compensation your child and family deserve to navigate these challenges. If you suspect your child’s injury was preventable, we are here to help.
