Sometimes, babies suffer injuries during the delivery process. These are birth injuries.
Here are some commonly asked questions about birth injuries.
1. What causes them?
A common cause of birth traumas is the size of the baby or its position during labor or delivery. Some other potential causes include:
- Prematurity
- Cephalopelvic disorder in the mother
- Dystocia
- Prolonged labor
- Maternal obesity
Sometimes, doctors can make mistakes and cause injuries as well.
2. What is brachial palsy?
Brachial palsy is an injury to a baby’s nerves that go to its arms and hands. This is commonly caused by dystocia where the shoulders are difficult to deliver. The result is that the baby will be unable to rotate and flex its arm. If it is only bruising due to forceps or other causes, the baby will likely regain the use of its arm in a few months. Parents might have to perform special exercises to help with the healing process. However, if doctors tear the nerve, the infant will experience permanent damage.
3. What causes bruising?
Sometimes, babies are born with bruises caused by hitting their mother’s pelvic bones during delivery. Forecep-assisted delivery can cause bruising that typically fades quickly. Likewise, vacuum-assisted delivery can bruise or even cut a baby’s scalp.
4. What is caput succedaneum?
This is swelling along the baby’s scalp. It can develop when a mother gives birth naturally. Vacuum-assisted delivery can also contribute to this condition. It is more common when a baby has bruising. This condition will usually go away after a couple of days.
Birth injuries caused by mistakes from medical professionals can seriously impact the life of a child. Parents facing these issues may take action to ensure they get proper compensation to care for lasting injuries resulting from negligence during delivery.