Birth Injury Blog

The birth of a child is a day that every parent remembers for the rest of his or her life. They are also placing an extreme amount of trust in the hands of the medical professionals who handle the birthing process. When something goes wrong and mistakes are made, the results can be devastating, as newborns are extremely vulnerable as they are being born.

If someone makes a mistake when a child is being born, it can lead not only to devastating medical, emotional and financial consequences, but it can also lead to a complicated legal situation should the parents decide to pursue a claim for medical malpractice. Below is a look at some common injuries that occur and the potentially negligent parties involved in a preventable birth injury. Read the rest of this entry »

When finding an obstetrician or midwife, a mother will often look for someone whose views on childbirth are similar to her own. For example, should it be natural? At home? In the hospital? There are a multitude of things to consider when planning for the birth of your precious child.

Even when you are not planning on a pregnancy, it can be important to have an idea of what you will want in your future obstetrician or midwife. Since many women tend to go to a doctor who is both a gynecologist and obstetrician, they will have already formed a bond with the doctor before even thinking about getting pregnant. If you feel strongly that drugs are absolutely out of the question, find a doctor who will not pressure you into changing your mind even during your labor pains. Read the rest of this entry »

By Ryan Holdings

Most parents or parents-to-be are so excited for the coming of a new member of their family. Even before the baby comes to the world, the parents see to it that everything is alright and that they have a welcome place to come home to. However, you also have to know what to do if your baby was injured during birth.

A baby always gives joy to a home and the baby’s parents want nothing but the best for their baby. But if this kind of accident happens, it is definitely not going to be a pleasant situation. You went all through the risky labor only to find out that your baby got injured after you gave birth. It is not a nice surprise for a mother. Read the rest of this entry »

By Joseph Devine

Erb’s Palsy is a type of paralysis occurring in the upper arm due to nerve damage. The damage done to these nerves almost always takes place during childbirth-typically, during births that are abnormal or notably difficult. Excessive strain on the neck and head of the baby, or pulling on the baby during childbirth is the most common causes of this paralysis. The extent of nerve damage can vary greatly from child to child, and so can the treatment options. In some cases, the damage is minimal enough that it can heal on its own, and in other cases, a child will require physical therapy or surgery. Read the rest of this entry »

By William Chang

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that usually affect the motor function of the person who has it. Cerebral palsy is not a progressive disease, meaning that the symptoms do not get either worse or better with time. Cerebral palsy usually affects either one or both of the arms and legs, though it seems to be a disorder related to brain injuries.

The exact cause of cerebral palsy is often difficult to pin down but has been directly linked to some injury to the brain or nerves before, during, or shortly after birth. Cerebral palsy can also occur from injuries or diseases sustained in early childhood, usually in the first two years of life.

Cerebral palsy can range in severity from just a slight arm or leg problem to very serious cerebral palsy, which can lead to complete immobility and a paralysis of several organs and limbs. Speech, eating, and learning impediments can also accompany cerebral palsy. The symptoms stay the same throughout the cerebral palsy sufferer’s life.

Cerebral palsy is a very common disorder that seems to be becoming more prevalent. Since cerebral palsy is often not diagnosed until a child is two years old, if the disorder is a mild case especially, then numbers are often not reported in a timely fashion. Over 500,000 people in the US have the disorder. Read the rest of this entry »