Common Birth Injuries
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Abrupted Placenta - Urgent care must be taken when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus. Once symptoms such as bleeding, cramping and abdominal pain occur, the medical personnel must act quickly to prevent injury.
Bruising / Forceps Marks - While some bruising on baby's face and head is normal due to the stress of passing through the birth canal, some bruises are caused by forceps or vacuum extraction.
Caput Succedaneum - More common in babies delivered by vacuum birthing, the soft tissues of the scalp become severely swollen. In most cases, the swelling subsides within a few days of birth.
Cephalohematoma - Bleeding underneath one of the cranial bones causes a lump on the baby's head that may take up to three months to completely heal. In most cases, the area of bleeding is small and will recede in two weeks, but if the lump is large, the baby may develop jaundice as the red blood cells break down.
Facial Paralysis - The facial nerve may be injured during birth by the pressure of the birth canal or by forceps delivery. Injury is evident when there is no movement on the side of the face when the baby cries or when the eye cannot be completely shut. Bruising this nerve causes only temporary paralysis of the face, but if the nerve is torn, surgery is often required.
Fetal Distress - When the fetus is in breach position, has an irregular heart beat or has umbilical cord misplacement, there is a possibility that oxygen is not getting to the brain which can result in severe complications or brain damage.
Fractures - The clavicle, or collarbone, is most vulnerable to fractures during birth, especially in cases of breech delivery or shoulder dystocia. The baby cannot move the arm on the side of the break, but immobilization of the arm and shoulder usually results in a quick recovery.
Hemorrhage - Small blood vessels in the eyes can break causing a red band around the iris of one or both eyes, but the redness usually fades in a week's time without causing permanent damage to the eyes.
Pharmaceutical Error - Prescription medications are supposed to make us feel better -- and, usually, they do. But mistakes with medication can turn a panacea into a literal poison for victims. And when the victim is a newborn baby, the results can be especially devastating.
Umbilical Cord Entrapment - When the umbilical cord is looped around the neck of the baby, oxygen deprivation may occur and cause brain injuries if proper and immediate care is not taken.
If you or someone you love suffered a serious birth injury, call the New York City medical malpractice attorneys at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP at (212) 986-7353 for a free consultation regarding your case.