Caput Succedaneum – a Common Birth Injury

Caput Succedaneum is one of the most common birth injuries that can happen as a result of pregnancy complications, labor and delivery. Caput Succedaneum (sometimes referred as just caput) is a scalp hemorrhage that occurs to a fetus during a head first delivery, and can result in bruising and moulding of the infant scalp.

Signs and Symptoms of Caput Succedaneum

Caput Succedaneum is diagnosed through physical examination of the newborn’s head, so no additional medical testing is required. Common indications of this type of birth injury may include the following:

• Puffy, soft swelling of the scalp

• Swelling that extends over the midline of the scalp area

• Bruising or hemorrhaging of the swelling over the infant scalp, caused by bleeding in the area

• Increased moulding of the infant head due to pressure from the delivery process

Swelling generally occurs in the portion of the head that initially pushes through the vaginal wall during delivery, but can occur on any portion of the scalp. Jaundice is a complication of caput succedaneum that can occur as a result of bruising breaking down on the scalp.

Causes of Caput Succedaneum

Caput Succedaneum is commonly caused by pressure from the vaginal wall or uterus during labor. This birth injury is more likely to occur during difficult or prolonged deliveries, and is more common during deliveries that include vacuum extraction, a technique that is used by a doctor to help a fetus move through the birth canal. Caput Succedaneum can more rarely occur before childbirth as the result of a premature rupture of membranes in the uterus, but Caput Succedaneum is most common as a birth injury during the labor and delivery process.

Treatment of Caput Succedaneum

Caput Succedaneum does not generally cause complications to the infant, and typically resolves itself over the course of a few days. This type of birth injury does not usually require any type of medical treatment. If the contour of the infant scalp has changed as a result of caput succedaneum, a normal contour will be regained through the healing process.

As with any birth injury, complications can arise. For instance, jaundice can result from the scalp hemorrhage. Parents and medical providers should be alert to any complications and be aware of the infant healing process.

Prevention of Caput Succedaneum

Caput succedaneum is often unavoidable during the delivery process, but thorough prenatal care and careful, competent management of the labor and delivery process can reduce the chances of this birth injury.

Contact a birth injury attorney if you feel that an instance of caput succedaneum is the result of medical malpractice or have any questions about a birth injury claim or birth injury lawsuit related to caput succedaneum.

(Article from Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice Legal View)

Bed Rest – What Expecting Mothers Should Know

The majority of expectant mothers get through their pregnancies without any need for bed rest. However, in about one in five American pregnancies, a doctor may prescribe partial or complete bed rest, meaning you should spend part or all of the day lying down, for the sake of your health or the health of you infant. In rare cases, the doctor may prescribe bed rest in a hospital, or suggest that you use a bedpan rather than get up to use the bathroom. It is important to find out exactly what level of activity your doctor thinks you should get, it may be more – or less – than you think.

Complications Lead to Bed Rest

Pregnancy complications that may lead to a bed rest prescription include:

• Preterm labor or early contractions.

• Hypertension (high blood pressure) and preeclampsia.

• Incompetent cervix, also known as cervical inefficiency.

• Placental abruption.

Why Bed Rest?

Bed rest is thought by doctors to help stave off premature labor, ease high blood pressure and swelling and avoid miscarriage. Not much well-designed research has been done on bed rest, but what research there is has not found any benefits to the baby. However, some studies have found that bed rest found mothers at increased risk for blood clots and decreases their cardiopulmonary fitness. Nonetheless, many women with high-risk pregnancies prefer to follow their doctor’s bed rest orders in order to be sure they are doing everything they can to avoid a miscarriage or birth injury.

Avoiding Bed Rest Complications

To avoid complications from bed rest, it is important to make sure you drink lots of fluids and eat lots of fiber to help prevent constipation. Doctors also recommend having six to eight small meals a day rather than three larger ones, to help you feel full and avoid heartburn, a common but minor pregnancy complication. Ask your doctor whether gentle exercise, to keep up your fitness and strength levels, is appropriate for you. Women who have been prescribed extended bed rest may be prescribed an anticoagulant medication such as heparin. And of course, it is important to continue going to your prenatal care appointments and keep taking any medications or vitamins that you have been prescribed.

How to Survive Bed Rest

Bed rest is a radical lifestyle change and a major inconvenience for pregnant women and their families and employers. Mothers who must take to their beds need logistical, emotional and sometimes financial support. If you work outside the home, talk to your employer or clients about which duties you can still perform from bed. Some employers may allow you to telecommute right up until your due date. For household chores like shopping, cleaning and cooking, ask family (including other children) and friends to help. Make a list and divide chores so that everyone knows what needs to be done. And if you have to go to the hospital, make your hospital room your temporary home by bringing your own clothes, bedding, decorations and entertainment.

If you or your infant have suffered pregnancy complications, miscarriage or birth injury, you may have a medical malpractice or medical negligence case. If you think you might want to file a birth injury or medical malpractice lawyer, you can try to contact Illinois personal injury lawyer as a qualified birth injury lawyer, who can help you decide whether you should file a lawsuit.

(Article from Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice Legal View)

Gestational Diabetes Can Harm Mother and Child

Gestational diabetes is one of the most common pregnancy complications, affecting two to seven percent of all expectant mothers. Like other forms of diabetes, it is caused by the body’s inability to process the sugar in food. Instead of being converted to energy, the sugars stay in the mother’s blood. Symptoms are hard to distinguish from typical symptoms of pregnancy, but include increased thirst, hunger and fatigue, and having to go to the bathroom more often.

Gestational diabetes happens because pregnancy hormones make it hard for the body to use insulin. Most women’s bodies make more insulin as result, but those whose bodies cannot keep up with the increased demand contract gestational diabetes. In most cases, the diabetes will disappear once you give birth; scientists suspect that in the small number of cases where it does not, the mother already had undiagnosed diabetes.

Gestational diabetes: Who is at Risk?

You are considered higher-risk for gestational diabetes if:

• You have had it during previous pregnancies.

• You have a family history of diabetes.

• You are obese (body mass index of 30 or higher).

• You have had a high-birth-weight baby before.

• You have high blood pressure.

• You have had a baby with a birth defect or an unexplained stillbirth.

Diagnosing Gestational Diabetes

Most doctors and midwives routinely test expectant mother’s blood sugar to screen for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. (If you are at high risk for gestational diabetes, or if a routine test shows high levels of sugar in your urine, you may be tested earlier). If the first test comes out positive, you should expect to take a second, three-hour glucose tolerance test.

If the diagnosis is confirmed, you should sit down with your health care team and talk about how you can manage your gestational diabetes. Like all diabetics, women diagnosed with the condition need to keep careful track of their blood sugar. In many cases, gestational diabetes can be controlled by modifying your diet and activity level. About 15 percent of mothers-to-be will also have to give themselves insulin shots.

Gestational Diabetes Dangers

In left uncontrolled, gestational diabetes poses a high risk of pregnancy complications, especially macrosomia, or high birth weight, which is caused by the baby absorbing all the sugar in your blood that you cannot process. If your baby puts on too much weight, he or she may not fit down the birth canal, which could cause perineal tearing, blood loss and pelvic damage to you and shoulder dystocia – getting a shoulder stuck behind the pubic bone during birth – for your child. This is a very serious problem that can cause birth injuries by damaging bones and nerves or causing asphyxia – cutting off oxygen to the baby’s brain. You may need a cesarean section or an episiotomy.

Other Complications of gestational diabetes

Other complications of gestational diabetes can include:

• Postnatal hypoglycemia and other conditions in the infant. In response to the extra sugar the baby was getting from you, he or she may have elevated insulin levels at birth. If a blood test a birth shows hypoglycemia, it is important to feed your baby right away. Other conditions to watch for include jaundice, hypocalcemia (low blood calcium) and polycythemia (high red blood cell count).

• Birth defects, especially hearts defects. If your diabetes is severe, your doctors may ask you to keep track of your baby’s movements and perform regular fetal heart monitoring or ultrasounds.

• Preeclampsia, or elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine, in the mother. The restricted blood flow caused by preeclampsia can sometimes cut off oxygen and nutrition to the baby.

• An increased risk of Type 2 diabetes later in life for both mother and child.

If you think you and your infant may have been victims of medical malpractice or medical negligence leading to a birth injury or birth defect, you may have a legal claim. You can try to visit Florida medical malpractice attorney as a qualified birth injury lawyer, who can help you decide whether you should file a lawsuit.

(Article from Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice Legal View)

Pregnancy Complications FAQ

If you are pregnant for the first time, you may be concerned about developing serious pregnancy complications. Take heart: Most pregnancies are complication-free, and most complications are easily controlled by regular visits to your doctor and following his or her advice. Though morning sickness and edema may be worrying, the chances are good that you and your family will be just fine.

What are common complications of pregnancy?

Common complications of pregnancy include:

• High blood pressure disorders. This is includes pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia or toxemia, HELLP and PIH. Preeclampsia is the most common pregnancy complication, affecting five to eight percent of all expectant mothers. High blood pressure can sometimes be quite serious because it causes blood vessels to constrict, restricting blood to both the mother’s organs and the baby.

• Gestational diabetes. This is also quite common, occurring in two to seven percent of pregnancies, but usually disappears after you give birth. Like other forms of diabetes, gestational diabetes can be controlled by diet and exercise. If it is not well-controlled, you are both at risk for a birth injury; the baby may end up absorbing the extra sugar in your blood, which could make him or her too big to fit down the birth canal, cause asphyxia and necessitate a cesarean section. The sugar also puts your newborn infant at risk for hypoglycemia, jaundice and other diseases.

• Iron-deficiency anemia. Because a pregnant woman has almost 50 percent more blood in her body than a non-pregnant one, her iron needs shoot up from 18 milligrams to 27 milligrams a day. If they do not change their diets, some women become anemic – tired and dizzy, with a rapid pulse and sometimes strange cravings. Your doctor or midwife should test your blood several times throughout your pregnancy and prescribe iron supplements if necessary.

• Cervical insufficiency, or incompetent cervix. This is when the cervix, the gateway between the uterus and the vagina, opens before the mother is ready to go into labor. Women with cervical insufficiency are more likely to have a second-trimester miscarriage, have their water break too early or have preterm or early preterm (before 32 weeks) deliveries.

• Ectopic, or tubal, pregnancy, with occurs in one in every sixty pregnancies. Normally when a woman becomes pregnant, the fertilized egg travels down her Fallopian tube and implants in the uterus. In an ectopic, oe tubal, pregnancy, the egg implants in the Fallopian tube,or very rarely in another inappropriate place. This gives the fetus no room to grow; ending the pregnancy is the only way to avoid rupturing the mother’s organs, which can cause infertility or death.

• Placental problems. In placenta previa, the placenta implants too low in the uterus; it eventually moves into place in most women. In placental abruption, it separates from the uterus before it is time to give birth, putting your baby at risk for miscarriage or growth problems. In both cases, vaginal bleeding is often the first sign that something is wrong; you should contact your doctor or midwife immediately and expect to be closely monitored through the rest of your pregnancy.

• Infections. Most contagious diseases do not affect a growing fetus, but a few that do cross the placenta can pose serious risks to your child, including provoking preterm labor.

Who is at Risk for Pregnancy Complications?

Risk factors for pregnancy complications include:

• A family history of pregnancy complications, or a history of complications during a previous pregnancy.

• Pre-existing health problems, such as blood pressure problems, diabetes, obesity, STDs, or immune disorders.

• High-risk lifestyle choices, such as heavy drinking, drugs or smoking.

• Other kinds of complications.

• Carrying multiple fetuses.

• Being pregnant for the first time.

How can I avoid pregnancy complications?

Concerned women can avoid some complications from pregnancy by getting regular prenatal care and discussing any unusual symptoms with their doctors or midwives. Many complications can be handled with frequent monitoring of the growing infant and watching your diet and activity level. Only a few could require bed rest, medications or restricted physical activity.

What are my options if I’ve had a complicated pregnancy or miscarriage?

If you think you or your infant has been victim of pregnancy complications, miscarriage or birth injury due to medical malpractice or negligence, you may have a personal injury law. You can try to visit Chicago personal injury lawyer to reach a qualified birth injury lawyer who can help with your claim.

(Article from Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice Legal View)

Is Vacuum Delivery Safe?

When there are problems with normal spontaneous vaginal deliveries, assistance may be needed to help complete the vaginal delivery. The most common methods of assisted delivery, also called operative delivery, are vacuum extraction and forceps delivery. Both methods use tools to help pull the baby through the birth canal. Vacuum delivery is used more commonly than forceps. About 10 percent of births are assisted with vacuum extraction.

Assisted vaginal deliveries are typically initiated when:

• There is concern for either the mother’s or the baby’s well-being;

• The labor is not progressing well enough; or

• The mother is too exhausted to continue pushing.

How Vacuum extraction Works

A cup attached to a vacuum pump is placed on the head of the baby. The cups can be made of plastic or metal and vary in their relative rigidity or softness. Rigid cups are more likely to result in successful assisted deliveries, but are also more likely to cause injuries to the baby. A vacuum pump creates the suction or vacuum seal in the cup needed to help pull the baby.

Risk of Injury from Vacuum Extraction

Recent studies suggest an increased risk of certain injuries or complications from vacuum birth for the baby and mother. In addition, there are several factors that can increase the risk of injury, that medical personnel have some control over, such as suction pressure, placement of the suction cup, duration of suction, age of the fetus being delivered (no less than 34 weeks; preferably at least 37 weeks of gestational age), and adequate pelvic to head ratio between the mother and baby.

Increased Injury Risks for Babies

The following birth injuries have a higher risk of occurring in vacuum assisted deliveries:

• Scalp trauma – bruises or abrasions on scalp

• Cephalohematoma – pooled blood next to the baby’s skull which is normally reabsorbed within a couple of weeks to three months. As red blood cells are broken down increased production of bilirubin occurs, which is increases the risk of jaundice.

• Skull fracture – although rare, severe cephalohematomas can occur as a result of a skull fracture during assisted delivery.

• Brachial plexus injury – nerve damage causing paralysis to arm, hand or fingers)

• Retinal bleeding – bleeding at the back of the eyes.

• Intracranial bleeding – bleeding in the brain caused by ruptured blood vessels

• Intra-ventricle bleeding – intracranial bleeding in the ventricles (fluid-filled spaces) of the brain

• Subgaleal hemorrhage – a rare but dangerous condition whereby a large volume of blood from damaged blood vessels collect between the periosteum (connective tissue covering bones) and the scalp. Swelling continues after birth and the condition often be diagnosed until after the first several hours, or few days of life. It is frequently associated with cephalohematoma and intracranial bleeding and can go undetected and misdiagnosed. If not detected within few days, anemia, metabolic acidosis (excess acidity in the blood), and respiratory distress develop causing death.

Injury Risks for the Mother

The risk of injury to the mother using vacuum extraction is low. There may be stretching and tearing of tissues, hematomas, and damage to the pelvic floor.

Is Vacuum Extraction Safe?

The incidence of birth injuries, especially cephalohematoma, intracranial hemorrhage, and retinal hemorrhage, are more likely to occur with vacuum births compared to normal spontaneous vaginal births and to births assisted with forceps. Injury to the baby is more likely to occur due to physician technique errors. Despite the increased risk to the baby, and a Public Health Advisory insured by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1998, many physicians believe that vacuum extraction is a safe and appropriate option for assisted delivery with a low rate of serious injury to the baby.

If you or your baby were injured during a vacuum extraction delivery, consult an experienced personal injury law firm, who can help you file a lawsuit and receive compensation and fees for your damages.

(Article from Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice Legal View)

Forceps Delivery Can Endanger Baby

Assisting vaginal delivery of babies with the help of forceps has been practiced for thousands of years, according to ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Sanskrit writings. In current times, forceps delivery is one of two assisted or operative delivery methods used. Although more common in past decades, it is becoming a less frequent option today, accounting for only about three percent of all vaginal deliveries. Since the 1980s, the method of choice for assisted deliveries has increasingly favored vacuum deliveries.

Making the Decision to Use Forceps

The decision to use assisted delivery (forceps or vacuum) is based on the following indications concerning the mother, baby or both.

• Second stage labor (pushing stage) is not progressing;

• Immediate or potential distress for the baby;

• Maternal factor such as exhaustion, bleeding, or heart or pulmonary disease;

• Baby is abnormally positioned (poised for breech birth).

If one of these conditions exists, then several other medical criteria and prerequisites must be immediately assessed before using forceps (the baby’s head must be engaged, cervix must be fully dilated, position of head must be known, and so on). One of the most important prerequisites to forceps use is a practitioner who is skilled with the tool and technique, as well as skilled at recognizing and managing potential complications. This includes knowing when to halt the procedure and consider other options such as cesarean delivery.

Medical Complications of Forceps Delivery

Forceps delivery is accomplished using a metal instrument, similar to tongs, that has rounded edges and handles. The forceps fit around the baby’s head, holding it as the baby is gently pulled out while the mother is pushing. Several types of birth injuries to the baby as well as maternal injuries can occur with forceps deliveries. The risk of injury is higher when a practitioner uses improper technique.

Injuries to the Baby

Fetal complications associated with forceps delivery included:

• Facial bruises or lacerations

• Facial nerve injuries

• Cephalohematomas (bleeding next to the baby’ skull under the scalp)

• Intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain)

• Skull fractures (very rare)

Injuries to the Mother

Maternal complications include those that occur at the time of deliver as well as longer term complications. The risk of early complications is increased in women delivering their first babies. Injuries include:

• Lacerations to the vagina, cervix, bladder or perineum

• Extensions of episiotomies, rectal tearing and rectal sphincter damage

• Increased blood loss

• Hematomas

• Intrapartum rupture of the uterus

Late complications are usually related to the tissue and organ trauma in the pelvic area that occurred at delivery and include:

• Urinary stress incontinence (urine loss physical activity in the abdominal area such as sneezing, coughing, lifting, sit-ups)

• Pelvic organ prolapse

• Fecal incontinence (from damage to the rectal sphincter)

Forceps deliveries seems to be on the decline. Fetal outcome depends on many factors. Among the most important factors is the skill of the medical team. For the mother, there can be long term negative impacts on the integrity of the pelvic area. Because of this, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has advocated that women can opt for cesarean delivery on-demand to preserve their pelvic musculature.

If your baby was injured during a forceps birth, you may have a legal claim. Contact an experienced birth injury lawyer to find out if you might have a valid accident lawyer and help decide whether to file a claim for compensation.

(Article from Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice Legal View)

Erb’s Palsy Affects Infant Mobility

What is Erb’s Palsy?

Erb’s palsy is a brachial plexus injury. It most commonly occurs at birth. The brachial plexus is the network of nerves that provides sensation and movement to the arm, hand, and fingers. In other words, it is this nerve plexus that connect the brain to the arm and the hand.

Brachial nerve injuries are classified according to severity. The severity of the injury dictates the type of treatment and the prognosis for recovery. Symptoms of brachial plexus injuries include:

• Arm movement with little or no use of hand and wrist.

• Hand movement with no use of shoulder or elbow.

• No feeling (paralysis) in the arm or hand.

Erb’s palsy is diagnosed after birth and is characterized by an arm laying straight down at the side and does not move. Sometimes the arm is turned, the wrist bent, and the fingers straight. If a droopy eyelid is also observed on the same side of the body, this usually indicates more severe nerve damage.

How it happens?

About two out of 1,000 babies born by vaginal birth suffer brachial plexus injury. These injuries occur when the baby is passing through the birth canal. If pressure is exerted on the baby’s neck or shoulder during birth which causes the neck to stretch, the brachial nerves can stretch or tear. Brachial plexus injuries occur most often during difficult deliveries involving a large baby, a prolonged labor, or a breech presentation. Although larger than average babies are at higher risk, babies of any size, including premature babies, can have this injury. Shoulder dystocia is a leading cause of brachial plexus injury. It occurs when the baby’s shoulder get stuck behind the mothers pubic bone during delivery.

Treatment

Physical therapy and surgery are the two treatment options used for Erbs palsy. Physical therapy exercise is usually the first option.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy exercises are essential for keeping the baby’s joints and muscles active. Involvement of a parent or a caregiver is critical in the recovery of the baby. The range of motion exercises must be done daily or even two to three times per day. This treatment is most effective when initiated early, at about three weeks of age. Most babies recover fully but it may take up to one or two years with consistent physical therapy. Babies with Erb’s palsy should be re-examined after one and three months to assess progress.

Surgery

If babies do not recover some motor function between 3 and 6 months surgery is an option. It is worth noting that nerve surgery may help babies less than a year old, but it does not help infants over one year old. After nerves are surgically repaired at the neck, the rate at which nerves grow (about one inch per month) means it could take several months or even years for the repaired nerves to reach the muscles of the hand. When children get a little older and continue to have weakness in the shoulder, arm, or hand, additional surgery - tendon transfer surgery - may be helpful. Tendon transfers are normally done when children are old enough to follow post-operative instructions. Surgeries are typically followed up with physical therapy for several months or up to a year.

In some cases of Erb’s palsy, the growth of the affected arm is impacted and appears noticeably smaller than the other. In these cases, adjustment to any functional limitations must be learned and self-esteem issues should be handled appropriately.

Prevention

Many believe that prevention is best accomplished by increased awareness and education about safe and effective protocols for handling shoulder dystocia, a main cause of brachial plexus injury.

If your child suffers from Erb’s Palsy and you believe it to be the result of medical malpractice or negligence, you may have a valid legal claim. Contact an experienced family law attorney for more information on a potential Erb’s Palsy lawsuit.

(Article from Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice Legal View)

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a medical term for a set of neurological disorders that impact brain function, body movement and muscle coordination. Cerebral palsy (also commonly referred to a CP) generally appears in infancy or very early childhood, and is not a progressive impairment or disability – the damage to the brain that causes CP does not worsen overtime. Although it can cause severe physical challenges to children who are diagnosed with it, cerebral palsy and its accompanying disabilities can be managed through a variety of supportive treatments.

Cerebral Palsy: A Disorder of the Brain

CP effects the muscle and nerves of the body, but the disorder itself is a result of brain damage that usually occurs during fetal development or the birth process. Depending on the type and location of the brain damage, cerebral palsy is a characterized by a lack of ability to control motor function. The most common effects of CP are a lack of motor coordination, muscle tightness or exaggerated reflexes (referred to as spasticity), difficulties with speech or swallowing, and limitations or difficulties with mobility. More severe disabilities can result from cerebral palsy, as well.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Because it is a group of disorders, the causes of cerebral palsy vary. Congenital cerebral palsy occurs due to brain injury during fetal development. Congenital CP can also result from brain damage occurring during a birth injury. According to the United Cerebral Palsy organization, approximately 90% of children with cerebral palsy are affected by the congenital form. In addition, some children develop acquired cerebral palsy, usually resulting from a brain infection or an accident that causes trauma to the brain, during the first few months or years of their life. Most infants can be diagnosed by the age of 18 months through a variety of motor skills tests.

Impact of Cerebral Palsy

The United Cerebral Palsy organization reports that an estimated 764,000 infants, children and adults in the United States with some form of CP. Approximately 8,000 newborns and babies are diagnosed every year.

Treatment and Prevention of Cerebral Palsy

Since the causes of CP can vary and can be difficult to anticipate, prevention efforts focus on offsetting the risk factors of cerebral palsy. Because brain damage can occur during fetal development and as the result of a birth injury, careful prenatal care to avoid premature birth, adequate medical testing and careful management of the birth and delivery process can offset risk factors.

Although there is no “cure” for cerebral palsy, a variety of supportive treatments can help children who are diagnosed with it improve their motor function and lead more active lives, including physical therapy, medications, surgeries and speech therapies.

If you feel that an instance of cerebral palsy is the result of medical malpractice or a preventable birth injury, contact a qualified cerebral palsy lawyer. An experienced brain injury lawyer can answer questions about a birth injury claim or lawsuit related to cerebral palsy.

(Article from Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice Legal View)

More About Birth Injuries and Infant Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a condition in which an infant’s brain and central nervous system are damaged. This condition may be caused by pregnancy complications, birth injuries, or post-birth problems such as asphyxia, neonatal stroke, or subconjunctival hemorrhage (bleeding of the eye). Symptoms range from mild to severe.

What kinds of Cerebral Palsy are there?

Brachial Plexus Paralysis is a form of a birth injury that causes loss of movement in the arm. In situations where paralysis is complete (called Complete Plexus Paralysis), the entire arm is paralyzed. Approximately one in 1,000 births results in this kind of injury.

There are two types of Brachial Plexus Paralysis. Klumpke’s Palsy is a condition in which the infant’s fingers or wrists are extremely weak. There is no exact treatment: however, a doctor may prescribe physical therapy or surgery in cases where severe nerve damage occurs.

Erb’s Palsy involves paralysis of the upper arm and shoulder muscles. Normal hand movement, including gripping or lifting hands above the head, becomes difficult or impossible. If the mother has a small pelvis, or if the baby is large at birth, this may increase the baby’s risk of developing Erb’s Palsy. Other factors, including gestational diabetes or excessive maternal weight gain, may also contribute to the risk.

What kinds of birth injuries cause infant palsy?

Many types of birth injuries or birth defects contribute to the development of infant palsy. Brachial palsy is a result of an injury to the brachial plexus, a group of nerves that controls the arm and hands. This injury often occurs when the mother has trouble delivering the baby’s shoulder (a situation called shoulder dystocia). When the nerve is torn, permanent nerve damage may occur, causing the baby to lose the ability to move its arm. Physical therapy is one possible treatment of this condition.

Caput succedaneum occurs when tissues in the baby’s scalp well or bruise while the baby travels through the birth canal. A baby is more likely to experience Caput when it is delivered via vacuum extraction. In normal cases, the swelling or bruising disappears a few days after birth.

Another type of injury involves forceps lacerations or marks. When forceps are used during delivery, they can leave temporary cuts on the baby’s head or face. Babies delivered via vacuum extraction are especially prone to these injuries.

Cephalohematoma involves bleeding under the baby’s skull. A bump usually appears on the baby’s head hours after birth and will disappear anywhere from two weeks to three months after birth. In normal cases, the baby’s body will reabsorb the blood.

Who is responsible for birth injuries?

Infant birth injury is an occasional outcome of the birth process. There is no easy way to avoid accidental injury during delivery; however, parents should seek to distinguish unavoidable birth injuries from medical malpractice. Malpractice attorney can help concerned parents determine whether or not an injury lawyer should be filed in certain cases of infant birth injuries. Parents should familiarize themselves with basic birth injury information and be aware of the possible complications of giving birth.

Because so many factors can cause ill health or injury to a newborn baby, mothers should take all possible precautions during and after the pregnancy. Although birth defects, injuries, or miscarriage can occur even when the mother follows her doctor’s instructions, the mother should still make every effort to protect her pregnancy from harmful substances (such as drugs or alcohol). If a mother experiences severe illness during her pregnancy, she should stay on bed rest until the illness passes.

(Article from Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice Legal View)

Birth Injury: An Overview

Birth injury, or birth trauma, refers to any damage an infant sustains during the birthing process due to forces like compression or traction, or factors that restrict blood flow or oxygen intake. Fortunately, advances in technology and medical practices have greatly diminished the occurrence of birth injuries over time. In the U.S., there are an average of six to eight significant birth injuries per 1,000 live births, and these injuries contribute to fewer than two percent of neonatal deaths and stillbirths.

Injury is typically sustained during transit through the birth canal. The likelihood of injury increases when the birth canal is too small, or the fetus is too large (which can occur when the mother is diabetic) or is not ideally positioned before birth, such as with breech (buttocks first) delivery. Often, a cesarean birth is used to avoid complications from these factors, but cesarean sections carry risks, as well.

Prematurity can be problematic, as babies born before 37 weeks of gestation have more fragile bodies that are more easily injured. Prolonged labor can also be a factor.

Minor swelling or bruising of a newborn in some areas after vaginal birth is relatively common. This type of injury does not require treatment and heals on its own. Forceps can leave temporary marks or bruises on the face and head. More pronounced swelling of the soft scalp tissues is known as caput succedaneum. Babies delivered by vacuum extraction are more likely to have this condition, along with bruising and, sometimes, a scalp laceration, and the swelling usually disappears in a few days.

One or both of the eyes may have a bright red band around the iris due to subconjunctival hemorrhage, the breakage of small blood vessels in the eyes of a baby. This is very common and does not cause damage to the eyes. The redness is usually absorbed in a week to ten days.

Other categories of birth injuries include :

Head Injury

In normal births, the head comes through the birth canal firs and is subjected to much of the pressure of delivery. Swelling and bruising are not typically serious, and heal within a few days. With chepalohematoma, a soft lump caused by pooled blood forms over the surface of one of the skull plates, but below the thick, fibrous covering. It does not need treatment, and heals in weeks or months. Jaundice may occur if the area of injury is larger than, from the breakdown of the red blood cells as the injury heals. Rarely, a skull bone may fracture, but unless it forms an indentation, it needs no treatment and heals quickly.

Nerve Injury

Pressure to facial nerve can create weakness in the muscles of one side of the face, but recovery without treatment takes just weeks. Nerves to one or both arms can be injured, producing brachial palsy, or weakness or paralysis of the arm or hand. The nerve to the diaphragm can be injured, leading to difficulty breathing. Both types of injuries heal within weeks without treatment, but surgery may be needed to repair any torn nerves. Spinal cord injuries are very rare, but produce paralysis below the injury that is often permanent.

Bone Injury

In rare cases, bones may be broken or fractured during delivery, most commonly the collarbone. Healing is almost always rapid and complete.

Brain Injury

Permanent brain injury that occurs before, during or shortly after birth is known as cerebral palsy. It is caused by an interruption of normal blood flow (ischemia) and/or oxygen flow (hypoxia or asphyxia) before or during labor, around the time of birth, or during the first hours or days after delivery. It is characterized by a lack of muscle control and movement, and symptoms can include seizures, spasms, visual and hearing problems, hyperactivity, and learning disorders.

Factors that can contribute to developing cerebral palsy include :
- Diabetes,
- pregnancy induced hypertension,
- preeclampsia,
- preterm labor,
- chorioamnionitis,
- maternal infection,
- group B strep infection,
- placenta previa, and
- vasa previa.

There is no cure, but therapies are available for treatment.

Perinatal strokes occurs between the 28th week of gestation and the first month of life. It is likely related to the activation of coagulation agents during this time. The rate of stroke in infants is equal to that of the elderly, according to a University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) study – one in 5,000. This can lead to long-term neurological problems, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, language problems and hyperactivity.

If your child suffered from a birth injury due to medical malpractice or negligence, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact can experienced birth injury lawyer to determine whether you wish to file a medical malpractice lawyer.


(Article from Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice Legal View)