A birth injury is an injury to a child during the childbirth process. There are many forms of injury an infant may sustain during birth, and the severity of birth injuries varies. Birth injuries may result from any of several causes, but they are sometimes the result of negligence or malpractice on the part of the medical practitioner.
Some Possible Birth Injuries:
- Bleeding in the brain
- Brain damage
- Brain swelling
- Cerebral palsy
- Erb’s palsy (brachial plexus palsy)
- Facial paralysis
- Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, HIE (Injury to the brain cells from a lack of oxygen)
- Skull fracture
Some Symptoms of a Birth Injury Include:
- A “floppy” appearance indicating lack of muscle tone
- Abrasions, bruises, marks, or swelling on the baby’s face, head or shoulder
- Failure of the infant to breath independently after delivery
- One arm that appears limp
- Requirement for CPR or introduction of a breathing tube to resuscitate the infant
- Seizures that develop within 48 hours of delivery
Some symptoms that can appear later in a child’s development include a lack of physical coordination and failure or delay in reaching development milestones like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking, and talking.
Please note that this list of symptoms is meant to be a guideline. Only a physician can properly diagnose a birth injury. Please consult with a physician if you suspect your child is displaying signs of delayed development.
