A birth injury is a trauma that an infant suffers resulting from the process of childbirth. Injuries suffered during labor and delivery occur in approximately 7 in 1,000 births in the United States and are sometimes caused by the negligence of a medical care provider. The actions of a nurse who does not pay attention to signs of fetal distress, or a doctor who is dogmatically committed to heavy intervention in the birth process can cause irreparable damage to the vulnerable new life. The lawyers at Pomerantz, Perlberger, & Lewis, LLP of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania know how devastating a birth injury can be to the life of a child and the child's family.

Common Forms of Birth Injury

Birth injuries come in many forms and levels of severity. Some of the more common forms of birth injuries include:

• Brain damage
• Fractures
• Facial paralysis
• Broken blood vessels in the eyes
• Bruises and lacerations caused by forceps
• Bleeding internally
• Shoulder injuries
• Swelling of the scalp
• Brachial palsy (Erb's Palsy)
• Cerebral Palsy

Some of these injuries are minor and will heal relatively quickly and without damage to the infant, but others can be crippling and lead to a lifetime of dependence.

Causes of Birth Injuries

Childbirth is naturally hard on an infant's body due to the contractions and bending that the mother's body goes through. For this reason, birth injuries are always a possibility. Sometimes the likelihood of injury is increased by the negligence on the part of one or more of the medical staff that results in a birth injury. Medical malpractice that results in birth injury include improper use of delivery tools, failure to recognize or respond to fetal distress, poor decisions made when complications arise, and overintervention in the natural birth process.

Another possible cause for birth injuries unrelated to the mother or medical staff may be due to chemical exposure. Such exposure can cause defects in the fetus that are not evident until delivery.

Identifying a Birth Injury

It is not always easy to determine that there has been an injury to the infant during the birthing process. Sometimes the injury is visible right after delivery. Other times, symptoms may not appear for months or even years. Since it may take a long time for birth injuries to become apparent, it is best to note right away any irregularities that occurred during delivery. Signs that your child may have suffered an injury at birth include:

• Swelling, bruising or abrasions on the head, face and shoulders
• The child develops seizures in the first 48 hours after birth
• One arm appears to be limp
• The child does not begin breathing immediately after delivery
• Lack of muscle tone and coordination
• Difficulty speaking
• Drooling
• Uneven gait

When a child has suffered a birth injury, the results can be devastating emotionally and financially and there are many unanswered questions. Doctors are often close-mouthed about what went wrong during the birthing process, and sometimes the only way to get answers is to file a claim. And if your child has suffered a serious birth injury, you need to be compensated for the additional expense and difficulty involved in raising an injured child.

Pomerantz, Perlberger & Lewis, LLP in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania know the pain, suffering, and financial stress a family goes through during a crisis like a birth injury. We are willing and capable of helping you and your loved ones with the legal and financial hardships you must endure during this time. Please contact birth injury attorneys at Pomerantz, Perlberger & Lewis, LLP today to learn more about birth injury and your rights.