Types of Birth Injuries: What Maryland Families Need to Know

Every day, hundreds of Maryland families welcome new babies. A small number of infants – roughly 29 of every 1,000 – are born with a birth injury. Most of these are minor. But some, such as cerebral palsy, can cause lifelong medical issues. 

Because birth injuries are fairly common, new and expecting parents should understand them. This article attempts to help parents understand the various types of birth injuries that can occur during labor and delivery and how medical staff can contribute to these injuries. Finally, it explains how a Laurel birth injury attorney can help your family. 

What is a Birth Injury? 

Issues in newborns can generally be divided into two categories: birth defects and birth injuries. 

A birth defect occurs when a child is born with a condition. Usually, the condition is a result of genetic abnormalities. However, exposure to certain medicines and chemicals can also harm the fetus. 

In a birth injury, the fetus developed normally before birth. However, during labor and delivery, the medical staff made mistakes that hurt the baby. If used improperly, certain techniques or instruments like forceps and vacuum extractors can damage the delicate newborn’s body. So, unlike birth defects, birth injuries can be prevented if medical personnel use proper care and attention. 

Common Birth Injuries

The vast majority of birth injuries are minor conditions that heal quickly without causing lasting harm to the child. However, some birth injuries can cause mild to severe issues that can be temporary or last a lifetime. Here are a few examples. 

Brachial plexus injury – The brachial plexus is a collection of nerves that run from the spinal cord through the shoulder and down through the arm and hand. When labor is progressing at a very slow rate (“dystocia”), doctors may use force or instruments to draw the baby out of the canal. Improper use of the tools can harm the brachial plexus, leading to weakness and even paralysis. 

Facial nerve palsy. Like brachial plexus injuries, facial nerve palsy is caused by misuse of forceps, particularly when undue pressure is placed on the head. Most children recover quickly, but facial palsy can be permanent. 

Intracranial hemorrhage. If a doctor applies too much force to a baby’s delicate skull, it can cause bleeding. This internal bleeding in the skull can harm the brain, leading to seizures, developmental delays, and a lack of oxygen to the brain. 

Hypoxic-Ischemic-Encephalopathy (HIE). HIE is a condition caused by a lack of blood or oxygen to a newborn’s brain during delivery. This usually happens because the medical staff fails to notice (or ignores) signs of fetal distress or delays a necessary Cesarean section. HIE can lead to cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and issues with movement and speech. 

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS). Meconium is the fetus’s first bowel movement. The baby should pass it within 48 hours of birth. However, fetuses under stress can release meconium into the amniotic sac during delivery. If the baby breathes it in, it can block their lungs and cut off oxygen to the baby’s brain and body. 

Cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy (“CP”) is a condition that affects the areas of the brain that control movement and posture. It can also affect muscle tone. CP typically happens when doctors mismanage conditions such as HIE or intracranial hemorrhage during labor and delivery, creating a sustained lack of oxygen or internal bleeding. 

CP patients often have very limp or very rigid limbs. They may also have exaggerated or involuntary reflexes. Some, but not all, children with CP also experience speech issues and learning difficulties, and developmental delays. 

Other conditions. The following conditions are included here because, though rare, they can cause severe developmental issues and even death. These include: 

• Subgaleal hemorrhage 
• Hydrocephalus
• Skull fractures
• Kernicterus
• Spinal cord injuries
• Stillbirth  

Taking Legal Action After a Birth Injury

Parents who believe that the labor and delivery team made crucial mistakes during delivery should contact a Laurel birth injury attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer can help you preserve important evidence while it is still available. Meeting with a lawyer in the early stages will also give you a better chance of meeting all of the deadlines in Maryland’s statutes of limitations. 

Once you contact an attorney, they will talk to you about proving that the doctor, nurses, hospital or others were negligent. If you can prove negligence, your family will be entitled to damages. This money can cover your child’s current and future medical bills, loss of earning potential, pain and suffering, the costs of accessibility modifications, and more.  

Your child should not have to pay for their doctor’s negligence. If your family needs legal help dealing with a birth injury, contact the Law Offices of Thomas E. Pyles. Our team of Laurel birth injury attorneys is committed to helping you and your family get the compensation you need to give your child the life they deserve. Call 301-705-5006 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.