All expecting parents have one thing in common: the most important thing to them is the health of their newborn. This desire is part of what makes birth injuries so devastating and emotional. If your child has recently suffered a birth injury and you are unsure of where to turn or what to do next, the experienced Charleston injury attorneys at Joye Law Firm will advocate for your family.

Types of Birth Injuries

There are many ways in which a child can be injured during the birthing process. Some of the most common types of birth trauma include:

• Brachial plexus injuries. Brachial plexus injuries are one of the most common types of birth traumas. Referring to a collection of nerves within the shoulder, the brachial plexus controls motor functions of the hand and arm. If the brachial plexus is injured – for example, if the baby’s arm is pulled on too forcefully during delivery – the child may suffer total or partial loss of use of the upper or lower arm, or of the hand. In most cases, brachial plexus injuries heal completely.

• Bell’s palsy. Bell’s palsy, also referred to as facial palsy, is a condition in which the nerve that controls the facial muscles is impaired. This may occur during birth if pressure is placed on the infant’s face during birth. The condition is characterized by a lack of control of the facial muscles, symptoms of which may include facial droop and drooling.

• Traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury, when sustained during gestation or birth, is often permanent. Typically, the biggest cause of brain injury in a fetus/newborn is oxygen deprivation; the longer the period of oxygen deprivation, the more severe the brain injury will likely be. Cerebral palsy, which refers to abnormal development of the brain, and is extremely devastating, is sometimes caused by lack of oxygen to a fetus’s brain.
• Fractures, bruises, and more. In addition to the above, other common injuries include fractures, bruises, cephalohematoma, subconjunctival hemorrhaging (bursting of the blood vessels in the baby’s eyes), and scalp swelling.

Causes of Birth Injuries in Charleston, SC

Not all birth injuries are completely preventable. For example, unforeseeable factors may lead to the umbilical cord becoming wrapped around a child’s neck, resulting in oxygen deprivation. Or, a baby may be of a very large birth weight, and its shoulders may become stuck behind the mother’s pelvis during vaginal delivery, increasing the chances of a brachial plexus injury.

That being said, most birth injuries are foreseeable and preventable. Even in the above examples, it is often the case that swift and efficient action on the part of the doctor can mitigate the chances of the baby sustaining any serious harm. On the contrary, the failure to act quickly and appropriately increases the chances of the child sustaining birth trauma.

Some factors that increase the risk of – or cause – birth injuries include:

• Instrumental delivery, including the use of forceps and vacuum extractors;
• Failure to monitor mother and fetus, including oxygen levels;
• Failure to perform emergency cesarean section if necessary;
• Applying too much force on a baby during delivery; and
• Poor communication between hospital staff, nurses, and doctors.