5 Most Common Birth Injuries

November 16, 2024

Bringing a new baby into the world is one of life’s most meaningful experiences. But if your baby is born with a life-altering injury, you might fear for their future. Many serious birth injuries do not heal completely, but with the right medical care, your child may be able to live a full and happy life. Here’s what you need to know about the five most common birth injuries and how they are managed.

Many serious birth injuries can be managed — but that doesn’t mean you have to manage them alone. A birth injury lawyer may be able to help you obtain compensation from the responsible party so your child can access the medical care they need.

Why Might You Need a Birth Injury Settlement?

Your Child Deserves Quality Medical Care

If someone hasn’t directly experienced a birth injury, they might not understand why your family would seek a birth injury settlement. Some people even accuse parents who seek compensation for their baby’s injuries of trying to take advantage of the situation. However, birth injury settlements are intended to offset the many costs that parents of a seriously injured child may face. In some cases, they can even cover medical expenses your child may incur as an adult. These are some of the costs you may be able to cover if you are awarded a settlement in a birth injury lawsuit:

Medical care
At-home medical equipment
Lost wages (if one parent quits a job to care for the child)
Medications
The cost of modifying your home to accommodate your child’s disability
Wheelchair-accessible vans
School aides or special schooling
The cost of an in-home caregiver
The cost of assisted living (if the child needs it as an adult)
Physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy.

Seeking a birth injury settlement does not mean you love your child any less. If anything, it’s a sign of your love for them. If you are able to receive compensation, you can give your child the ultimate gift — the gift of a secure future.

The Five Most Common Birth Injuries

No one expects that their child will be born with a serious injury, but, unfortunately, it happens. These are some of the most common injuries babies experience during birth.

1. Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a condition caused by damage to a baby’s brain, often before or during birth. Symptoms can vary significantly from child to child, but cerebral palsy almost always causes problems with movement. These are some common cerebral palsy symptoms in babies:

Muscle tone issues — often involving too-stiff or too-floppy muscles
Lack of coordination
Tremors or other involuntary movements
Trouble reaching important milestones like crawling or sitting up
Overextending the back or neck when held.

Cerebral palsy causes varying levels of impairment. A child with a very mild case may be able to grow up and successfully live on their own. However, a child with a severe case may need support to accomplish basic tasks, even as an adult.

2. Erb’s Palsy and Other Brachial Plexus Injuries

The brachial plexus is a collection of nerves that allow the spinal cord to communicate with the arms. Sometimes — especially if a medical professional uses too much force when trying to remove the baby — some of the nerves in the brachial plexus may be injured. Very mild nerve injuries cause weakness in the arm and can heal on their own. Severe injuries involving complete nerve tears can cause paralysis of the arm and may need surgery. Erb’s palsy is a common kind of brachial plexus injury. These are some of the symptoms you may notice after birth if your baby has been injured:

The baby cannot move one arm or seems to have trouble doing so.
The palm of one hand faces backward with curled fingers.
The baby has poor reflexes in one hand.

Doctors should evaluate your baby for signs of Erb’s palsy and other issues, but they can sometimes miss important symptoms. If you think your baby may have Erb’s palsy, contact your doctor immediately. The faster your baby receives treatment, the more likely they are to make a full recovery.

Has your baby suffered a serious birth injury because of a medical error? Call Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 to book your free consultation today.

3. Birth Asphyxia

Birth asphyxia happens when your baby does not receive enough oxygen during or after birth. It is sometimes called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Depending on how long your baby is deprived of oxygen, the long-term effects can be severe. Babies who do not receive enough oxygen at birth may suffer from developmental delays, cognitive deficits, seizures, and organ damage. If your baby shows the following symptoms immediately after birth, they might have suffered an injury from birth asphyxia:

Weak or shallow breathing
Skin that looks bluish or grayish
Slow heart rate
Gasping for air
Weak muscles
A weak cry or no crying at all.

Birth asphyxia can result in epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and even death. Depending on your child’s degree of disability, they may need supportive care for the rest of their life.

4. Cephalohematoma

Cephalohematoma is a relatively common birth injury that often heals on its own. It happens when blood collects between the baby’s scalp and their skull. The hematoma itself may look alarming at first, but it typically disappears in weeks to months. However, some cephalohematomas can lead to potentially serious complications:

Growth of bony deposits
Anemia
Infection
Jaundice.

Cephalohematomas often happen when you have a difficult delivery or if vacuum suction or forceps are used to assist with the birth. If your baby is born with this condition, your doctor will likely want to monitor them to ensure the healing process goes smoothly.

5. Bone Fractures

Even if there are no medical errors and your delivery proceeds as normal, there’s still a chance that your baby may suffer one or more fractures. However, because babies heal so quickly, a broken bone in a baby is generally not as serious as a fracture in an older child. In many cases, a broken collarbone will heal quickly.

However, that doesn’t mean all fractures will heal without medical intervention. Your doctor should be able to assess your baby’s fractures and create a treatment plan. Often, for a newborn, treatment involves gently wrapping the area to create a kind of loose splint. If a fracture is not treated properly, it can lead to serious complications:

Nonunion (when fractures do not heal)
Malunion (when fractures heal in an abnormal position)
Osteomyelitis (bone infection).

These complications are rare, but they are not unheard of. You should always follow your doctor’s instructions for care and closely monitor your baby to make sure they are getting better.

Has Your Baby Been Injured?

The Wapner Newman Team Is Here for You

No baby should have to suffer the lifelong consequences of someone’s negligence. At Wapner Newman, we take on our clients’ fights as if they are our own — and our results reflect that commitment.

If your baby has suffered a significant birth injury, we’re here for you. Call Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 to book your free consultation.