Trauma during the birthing process is a common cause of injury and even permanent disability in infants. Childbirth can be a difficult and confusing process for new parents, and unfortunately, many patients are only marginally aware of what is happening during the delivery of their child.

In many cases, parents whose children have suffered from birth trauma have a difficult time piecing together the events that led to their child’s injury, and medical professionals may be of little help in this process.

To understand the problem broadly, there are two primary causes of birth trauma: Mechanical and anoxic injuries.

Mechanical injuries are caused by physical force, as when a child is injured from use of forceps or pulling on a limb during the delivery.

Anoxic injuries are caused by oxygen deprivation, which can cause a variety of brain injuries, including blindness, mental retardation, and other disabilities.

Mechanical injuries

Common types of mechanical injuries caused by birth trauma include:

• Brachial Plexus Injury, an injury caused by tugging on the infant’s arm during delivery.
• Brain trauma, caused by forceps or other trauma to the infant’s head.

Mechanical injuries may or may not be obvious early in infancy. In some cases, mechanical injury may be obvious, but others may only show up as the child begins to show developmental abnormalities.

It is important to note, however, that it is normal for infants delivered vaginally to show some degree of bruising, so not every bruise is an indication of malpractice. However, if your newborn infant has unexplained injuries, including unusual bruising or abrasions, it may be a sign of birth trauma.

Anoxic injuries

Depending on the type and severity of anoxic injury, these may be very difficult to diagnose during infancy, and very difficult to effectively attribute to medical error. These type of injuries can be a result of oxygen deprivation as a result of drugs administered during childbirth, through physical obstructions such as an umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s neck or obstructions to breathing, or other causes.

Common types of anoxic injury include:

• Brain damage, including mental retardation
• Blindness and other visual problems
• Cerebral palsy

In June 2010 Burg Simpson attorney Jennifer Keel wrote the article “Neonatal Jaundice, Hyperbilirubinemia, and Kernicterus for the Medical Negligence Litigator”. This was originally published in American Association for Justice, Birth Trauma Litigation Newsletter and is used with permission.

If your child suffered a birth injury and you believe the birth trauma was the result of medical negligence, please contact us today to schedule your personal consultation with our experienced medical malpractice team.

• Scott J. Eldredge
• William L. Simpson
• Colin M. Simpson
• Janet G. Abaray
• Jennifer L. Keel
• James G. Heckbert