Posts in Birth Injury

Brachial Plexus Injuries FAQs

Brachial plexus injuries in infants are most commonly caused by trauma to the neck as it stretches away from the shoulders during birth. Unfortunately, these injuries can occur during the delivery of a baby and because of a physician’s medical malpractice. Though brachial plexus injuries are rare at birth, and while many brachial plexus injuries can heal on their own, a permanent brachial plexus injury can be devastating to the baby and his or her family members. This article discusses brachial plexus injuries and medical malpractice claims involving brachial plexus injuries caused at birth. More ›

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Shoulder Dystocia FAQs

Shoulder dystocia is a common cause of birth injuries. This article discusses medical malpractice claims involving shoulder dystocia, and answers common questions patients and their family members may have about shoulder dystocia, and the birth injuries it can cause. More ›

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Cerebral Palsy FAQs

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy refers to a group of neurologic disorders that impact a person’s motor skills and cognitive development. It typically presents with stiff muscles (called spasticity), uncontrollable movements (called dyskinesia), and/or poor balance and coordination (called ataxia). The most common form of cerebral palsy is called spastic cerebral palsy, where a person has increased muscle tone, making their muscles and difficult to move. Other types include dyskinetic cerebral palsy, where people cannot control the movement of their hands, arms, feet, legs, mouth, or tongue; ataxic cerebral palsy, where people have issues with balance, coordination, or writing; and mixed cerebral palsy, where people have symptoms of more than one type of cerebral palsy. Unfortunately, a byproduct of a cerebral palsy diagnosis can be significant cognitive delays and impairments. More ›

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Medical Malpractice Claims Related To Electronic Fetal Monitoring

Electronic fetal monitoring (“EFM”) is used for most women during labor. EFM allows the medical providers to see how the baby is doing in response to the stresses of labor. It provides important information that the medical team uses to determine many things, including whether the plan for a vaginal delivery is no longer a safe option for the baby. This article discusses EFM, medical malpractice claims involving EFM, and answers common questions family members may have about EFM if their baby suffered a birth injury. More ›

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Prolonged Labor

Before a woman is about to deliver her baby, she will enter into a process called labor. Labor refers to the period before delivery when the mother experiences a series of continuous and progressive contractions of the uterus. This causes the cervix to open (or dilate) and to thin (or efface). These changes to the cervix allow the baby to move through the birth canal, culminating in delivery.  More ›

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Why was My Baby Injured at Birth?

Unfortunately, birth injuries to infants and their mothers are not uncommon. Some birth injuries are caused by the natural processes of pregnancy and childbirth and are unavoidable even with appropriate medical care. Other birth injuries, however, may be caused by medical malpractice. More ›

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What is a Birth Injury?

A birth injury, sometimes called birth trauma or neonatal birth trauma, is any physical harm caused to a mother or baby as a result of harm during pregnancy, childbirth, or the period after delivery. More ›

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Common Birth Injuries Suffered by Babies

A birth injury or birth-related injury is any physical harm caused to the mother or baby immediately before, during, or shortly after childbirth. We recently discussed birth injuries in relation to the mother here. In this article, we will consider birth injuries to the baby. More ›

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How Do Birth Injuries to a Mother Occur?

In 2020, 861 women in the United States died of maternal causes. Despite continued medical advances, the number of pregnancy-related deaths has steadily increased since the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System was first introduced in 1987. Some of these deaths could not have been prevented with current medical knowledge and tools, but others were preventable with proper care or, tragically, were caused by the medical malpractice of healthcare providers. More ›

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I was Injured While Giving Birth. How Can I Find Answers?

Childbirth is usually a wonderful experience. Sometimes, however, mothers suffer serious injuries during childbirth that may have been preventable with appropriate medical care. Such injuries can be so severe that they may prevent the mother from having more children. More ›

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HIE Awareness Month

April is HIE awareness month. For those who do not know, HIE (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy) is a type of brain injury caused by insufficient blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Deprivation of blood flow and oxygen results in the death of brain cells. HIE often occurs around the time of birth. There are multiple causes of HIE – some of which are predictable and preventable, and occur because of medical malpractice. More ›

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Birth Injury FAQs

What is a birth injury?

A birth injury is an injury to a mother or baby that occurs before, during, or shortly after childbirth. Serious birth injuries are rare, but when they occur, they can cause devastating effects that may require a lifetime of treatment. If these injuries were due to the medical malpractice of a doctor, nurse midwife, nurse, or any other healthcare provider, the child and/or their family may be able to bring a lawsuit. More ›

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