Most parents look forward to a new addition to the family with a great deal of joy – but joy can turn to despair when the baby suffers a birth injury.
Birth injuries are distressingly common in the United States, and they’re on the rise. Between 2006 and 2014, neonatal trauma rates increased by 23%, from 25.3 incidents per 1000 hospital births to 31.1 incidents. Understanding the signs and symptoms of birth injuries is crucial for new parents since not all injuries are immediately detected – and early intervention can significantly impact a child’s long-term prognosis.
What are birth injuries?
There is a wide variety of possible injuries that an infant can suffer before, during and shortly after delivery, all of which can be called “birth injuries.” These can be mild and temporary to severe and permanent. Birth injuries can result from natural complications during delivery, but they are often the fault of medical negligence.
Common birth injuries include:
- Cerebral palsy (CP): This is actually a cluster of disorders that can affect a child’s movements, coordination and muscle tone. CP is caused by brain damage before, during or shortly after birth
- Brachial plexus injuries: Damage to the network of nerves controlling the arm and hand, often resulting from shoulder dystocia due to forceps use
- Fractures: The most common being a fractured clavicle (collarbone), often occurring during difficult deliveries, again due to the use of forceps
- Intracranial hemorrhage (brain bleeds): Bleeding within the baby’s brain due to trauma or oxygen deprivation, especially in babies with difficult deliveries
- Facial paralysis: Temporary or permanent damage to the facial nerves, often linked to the use of forceps or prolonged pressure during birth due to a baby’s size
- Perinatal asphyxia: A lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain and organs during labor or delivery, which may also be related to the baby’s size or position
While some of these injuries can be obvious, while others can take days, weeks or even months to manifest.
What should parents watch out for after a birth?
Parents who spot the following signs should immediately bring their concerns to a doctor’s attention so that their child can be evaluated:
- Floppy or stiff limbs: If your newborn’s arms and legs seem unusually limp or stiff, this could indicate nerve or muscle damage.
- Asymmetrical movements: Babies with a brachial plexus injury may have one limb that appears weaker or even paralyzed.
- Misshapen head or swelling: Swelling of the scalp or bruising under the skin on the baby’s head can signal birth trauma, often due to the use of forceps or vacuum tools.
- Excessive crying or difficult movements: Symptoms of a fractured collarbone can include pain, difficulty moving the affected arm or an unusual lump.
- Seizures: Seizures in newborns may be subtle but are one of the most telling signs of a brain injury. Seizures can appear as jerky movements, eye fluttering or complete unresponsiveness.
- Feeding problems: Newborns with birth injuries, particularly those affecting the brain or nerves, may struggle to nurse or take a bottle.
- Lethargy: While newborns sleep a lot, excessive sleepiness, difficulty waking or a lack of interest in feeding could signal an issue, particularly with brain injuries.
- Delayed development: If a baby is not meeting developmental milestones such as rolling over, sitting up or crawling at the expected times, this could indicate a more subtle birth injury.
- Hearing or vision issues: Birth trauma, especially those impacting the brain, can lead to hearing loss or vision problems. Babies who don’t respond to sounds or have difficulty focusing their eyes at normal stages may need further evaluation.
- Speech and cognitive delays: Although speech development takes time, babies with birth injuries may experience delays in vocalization or later cognitive development.
As a parent, the most crucial thing you can do is trust your instincts. If you think something is wrong with your baby, schedule an evaluation. If your child has suffered a birth injury, it may be necessary to seek the appropriate legal guidance so that you can obtain the compensation you need to secure your family’s future.