How Birth Injuries Occur

Written by Adam Peck Category: Birth Injury March 28th, 2013 2 min read

How do birth injuries occur? A birth injury is defined as any type of trauma or injury that occurs to the baby during the course of childbirth. It is estimated that seven out of every 1,000 births can result in a birth injury. Although there are many different types of birth injuries, the most common include the following:

Cerebral Palsy — This can occur if the infant does not receive the proper amount of oxygen before or during delivery. Brain damage can occur, which affects development of the child’s motor skills, resulting in learning disabilities, seizures, and difficulty speaking.
Shoulder Dystocia or Erb’s Palsy — This occurs when the shoulder of the baby gets stuck behind the pubic bone of the mother. Severe nerve damage happens when the brachial plexus nerves become injured during childbirth.
Forceps Delivery — This occurs when an obstetrician uses vacuum extraction or forceps during delivery, the newborn can end up with severe bruising. In worst cases, the baby’s skull could be fractured.
Hypoxia — This occurs when the baby is deprived of oxygen, causing brain damage.
Group B Strep (GBS) — Infants can acquire this infection if the doctors failed to screen the expectant mother for the Type B Streptococcus virus. Antibiotics should be given to the mother prior to delivery. Failing to detect this virus can result in the child’s death.
Cesarean Section — Doctors can be held liable if they failed to perform a Cesarean section to the baby’s detriment after the patient experienced prolonged labor and the baby was stuck in the birth canal without sufficient oxygen.
Fetal Distress — Medical professionals are responsible for monitoring the mother during labor. If they failed to respond to signs of fetal distress and the baby was deprived of oxygen, they may be held liable.

Have you or a loved one ever endured such a horrible experience? How did you deal with it? Did you take legal recourse? If so, what happened?

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Written by Adam Peck

Expertise: Personal Injury

Adam J. Peck, ESQ is a principal with Peck Law Group, APC. In 2008, Mr. Adam Peck received his Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School where he graduated Cum Laude. His practice is primarily dedicated to representing Elders, Dependent Adults, along with their loved ones and family members, who have suffered horrific personal injuries.