Common Birth Injuries and their Prognosis

Birth injuries can take a wide variety of forms, and have a wide variety of causes. Some factors put your baby more at risk, such as a breech delivery or negligent medical professional. Birth injuries occur to 6-8 of every 1,000 babies born in the United States. This means that they are more common than you might think. But some are more common than others. Today, we’d like to take a look at the prognosis of some of the most common birth injuries.

Bruising

Bruising is one of the most common and minor of all birth injuries. It can occur due to trauma from the mother’s pelvic bone or from the doctor’s use of forceps. It can be alarming to see bruising or forceps marks on your newborn, but don’t worry; these typically go away in just a few days. Still, if you believe it was caused by medical malpractice or negligence, you might want to consider a lawsuit.

Facial Paralysis

Like bruising and many other birth injuries, facial paralysis tends to occur due to a particularly difficult birth. Most often, we can trace them to improper use of forceps. Facial paralysis often becomes obvious when a baby cries; frequently, one of their eyes will not completely close. In this case, extra eye care becomes a necessity.

In about 90% of cases, facial paralysis goes away after a few months. But for the unlucky few with a more severe case, they may require medical intervention.

Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Cerebral palsy isn’t always a birth injury. Research has shown that it is, more often than not, a result of congenital factors. Still, it can be caused by a lack of oxygen flow to the baby’s brain during a particularly stressful birth.

There is no known cure for cerebral palsy. It is a permanent condition, meaning that it will never go away. But as a parent of a child with cerebral palsy you should know that advances in technology and therapy techniques have made it easier for sufferers of CP to lead fulfilling lives.

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

If you have noticed that your newborn’s eyes are partially red, they likely suffered a subconjunctival hemorrhage. This is a more technical way of referring to broken blood vessels. It is so common that it often goes overlooked, and it’s rarely a cause for concern. Your baby may have experienced a difficult birth, but this is one of the most benign of all birth injuries. It should go away within a few days.

Contact The Snyder Law Group Today

The Snyder Law Group, LLC, proudly represents clients throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. Our experienced Baltimore attorneys understand the frustration that comes with an insurance company, medical professional, or other party that refuses to accept liability for negligent or reckless behavior. You can take heart in knowing there are talented and experienced lawyers ready to work for you. We are experienced in handling personal injury claims of medical malpractice or injury resulting from serious car and truck accidents, and have secured hundreds of millions in verdicts and settlements. Please visit our website, www.410thefirm.com, for more information and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.