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more_legal_areas cerebral_palsyA birth injury is usually defined as an injury or condition that results from complications during labor or delivery. It is estimated that between 27 babies out of 1,000 born will suffer some sort of birth injury.
Birth injuries can be caused by circumstances surrounding the birth, such as the baby''s size or position during labor and delivery. Babies who are larger than 8 pounds 13 ounces are at risk for birth injury, as are babies with an abnormal birthing position, such as breech (buttocks first). Other natural conditions that may cause birth injury are prematurity, the size and shape of the mother''s pelvis and prolonged or difficult labor. Twisted umbilical chords may cut off the oxygen supply, putting the baby at risk for birth injury.
Birth injuries may also be caused by medical malpractice. A doctor''s failure to provide proper pre-natal care could result in a difficult labor or delivery. Medication prescribed by a physician during pregnancy may be harmful to the fetus, and the use of forceps or vacuum extraction during delivery may cause several different birth injuries. A doctor''s delay in ordering a C-section may also lead to birth injury.
Common birth injuries that occur include: swelling of the baby''s skull, bleeding underneath the baby''s cranial burns, bruising on the head or face, subconjunctival hemorrhage (bursting of blood vessels in the eyes), facial paralysis, brachial palsy (inability to flex and rotate the shoulder and arm), and fractures of the clavicle or collarbone. For the most part, these common birth injuries heal on their own within a few weeks or can be fixed with immobilization, physical therapy or, in extreme cases, surgery.
Cerebral palsy, a group of disorders caused by damage to the brain before, during or shortly after birth, is one of the more severe birth injuries. Resulting in impaired muscle control and neurological complications that do not worsen or improve over time. Each year, 8,000 infants are diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
It may be difficult to determine whether a birth injury is the result of natural causes or if it is caused by medical error. A personal injury lawyer can help determine the cause of birth injury and seek compensation from faulty physicians.
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