Common birth injuries parents should be aware of

Women who go to a hospital or birth center to have a baby likely don’t expect anything bad to happen. While most women can go through the process without any problems, there’s a possibility of a birth injury. 

Some birth injuries only affect the child for a little while, but others last a lifetime. This means that the parents will have to cover medical care costs for the duration of the issue and maybe even for their child’s lifetime. That can become costly, not only because of the medical care itself but also because it’s likely to require you to miss work and incur other expenses. 

What are some common birth injuries?

Many injuries can occur during birth. Some of the more common ones include: 

• Fractures: A baby may suffer a broken bone during delivery. The causes of this injury may vary. The collarbone is the most often fractured bone in a baby’s body. While it might not take long to heal, this is often an excruciating injury for a baby.
• Brachial palsy: The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves that runs down to the arms and into the hands. Those nerves can be damaged during labor and delivery, especially if shoulder dystocia occurs. Paralysis, lack of range of motion and weakness in the affected arm can occur. These usually diminish over time. 
• Facial paralysis: The nerves in the face can suffer damage during delivery, especially if forceps are used. If the nerve is bruised, the facial paralysis is temporary. Surgical intervention is sometimes necessary if the nerve is torn.

Just because a birth injury is considered common doesn’t mean that parents should just allow the incident to go unchecked. These injuries can sometimes lead to long-lasting challenges for the child. 

Seeking compensation can help to cover the child’s current and future medical care costs. Depending on the circumstances, it might also help prevent doctors from doing the same to other children.