Bringing a new life into the world can be both incredibly joyful and overwhelmingly stressful for parents. From conception to birth, there are many complications that can occur, and not all of them are preventable.
While they can do their best to make the pregnancy a safe and healthy one, when a new baby’s day of birth comes, parents must put their trust in the health care professionals who will handle the delivery. Unfortunately, too often medical mistakes during birth can lead to life-threatening issues for the newborn.
Bone fractures
Infant bones can easily fracture or during birth. That is especially true if providers are not careful when using medical instruments during delivery. Collarbone and clavicle injuries, humerus bone injuries and skull fractures are the most common bone-related issues for newborns.
Nerve damage
Babies may also suffer nerve damage if their heads, necks or shoulders receive too much pressure during delivery. Brachial plexus injuries, spinal cord damage and facial paralysis are among the most frequent nervous system injuries that can occur during birth.
Oxygen deprivation
It is essential that providers carefully monitor fetal oxygen levels before, after and during delivery. Even a minor oxygen deficiency can lead to infant brain damage and potentially lifelong physical and cognitive disabilities, including delayed motor development, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and blindness.
Birth injuries due to medical negligence can be both emotionally devastating and financially overwhelming. Parents should know that filing a personal injury claim may help to prevent future incidents and help cover the cost of providing their child with much-needed specialized care.
