What Is Erb’s Palsy and How Does it Happen?
Childbirth is a magical time for the majority, but when there are complications involved, it can get quite scary. During the actual birthing process, there are several injuries that can occur to both mother and baby. While some conditions are minor and can be treated right away, there are others that can turn out to be life-altering. Erb’s palsy is one such injury that may affect a newborn as they are being delivered, impacting approximately one to two babies out of every 1,000 births. However, it is often avoidable, and that’s when it may be time to get a dedicated New York City Erb’s palsy lawyer involved.
Long-Term Health Problems Related to Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy is a disorder that occurs when a baby’s upper arms are damaged during delivery. The condition gets its name from the location in the body where it occurs – at Erb’s point, the area close to the baby’s neck where the fifth and sixth cranial nerves meet to create the brachial plexus, or where the shoulder meets the neck. The nerves in the brachial plexus control movement in the baby’s arm, hand, and fingers so if Erb’s palsy occurs, it’s these areas that will be mostly affected.
Common Umbilical Cord Related Birth Injuries
The umbilical cord is vital to ensuring the health and well-being of a developing infant within a mother’s womb. There are a few umbilical cord problems that are quite common, however, and can have potentially severe consequences for an unborn child. These problems are not birth injuries in their own right, because many of them cannot be avoided and are not caused by the birthing process. However, some of these problems can lead to birth injuries such as cerebral palsy, birth asphyxia, and long-term brain damage if doctors do not properly identify and respond to them.