The birth of a baby is a joyous occasion for West Virginia parents. However, a complicated delivery or difficult pregnancy can result in a birth injury, dampening that joy. In many situations, birth injuries can be prevented, making the current situation even worse for parents and the newborn child.
What are birth injuries?
Birth injuries occur in about six to eight of every 1,000 births. They are more common in certain circumstances like having a pre-term child, extremely large or small newborns, the position of the mother or baby, or complicated labor. First-time mothers are more likely to have a newborn suffer a birth injury, along with those with pelvic abnormalities or gestational diabetes.
Some birth injuries are common and generally require minimal attention, including bruises from forceps delivery, lacerations from a cesarean section, or subconjunctival hemorrhage behind the eyes. However, others can result in severe problems or even a permanent disability:
- Severe swelling of the baby’s scalp
- Bleeding beneath the outer tissue covering skull bones
- Fractures
- Brachial palsy
- Facial nerve palsy
- Intracranial hemorrhage
Birth injuries are a form of medical malpractice
Many birth injuries can be prevented, but when they are not, they could be the result of medical malpractice. Even when birth injuries are not severe, they often require physical and occupational therapies so that the child can lead a normal life or as close to a normal life as possible. These therapies require money and time.
Anyone injured by birth injuries, or other forms of medical malpractice, has the right to compensation. If your child suffered birth injuries, even if not severe, you might want to file a lawsuit if you believe negligence was involved.
