Birth Injury and Cerebral Palsy

More so than just about any other cause, Cerebral Palsy and birth injuries are inexorably linked. Studies show that as many as 27 babies out of 1,000 deliveries suffer some form of birth trauma. Most injuries occur before, during, or after birth, and can range from incidental marks to long lasting injury.

Many things can contribute to birth injuries, from the size of the baby and the size of the mother, to abnormal birthing conditions, to difficult or prolonged labor. Unfortunately, many of the reasons children suffer debilitating injury later in life stem from common mistakes that medical professionals make during the often hectic and chaotic childbirth process.

Medical malpractice is the major cause of birth injuries that lead to Cerebral Palsy. Forceps injuries, vacuum damage, improper medication, asphyxiation, poorly timed or aggravated delivery or C-Section, and just fundamental errors in judgment can cause lifelong suffering to both the child and the parents. 8,000 children each year suffer permanent injury to their muscles, nerves, tendons, or bones that fall under the Cerebral Palsy category.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Cerebral Palsy. The group of disorders that make up the condition are permanent, and although they do not usually get worse over time, they do not usually improve either. Therapy and assisted living can usually compensate for decreased movement, but this form of treatment is usually expensive and time consuming.

Connection of Birth Injury and Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is usually caused by a number of easily preventable factors. Unfortunately, more and more doctors and nurses are making mistakes that will affect a newborn and their family for an entire lifetime. Although in some cases it can be difficult to determine the cause, early or late delivery, incorrect medication, or failure to use the appropriate birthing method account for the large majority of causes of Cerebral Palsy.

The main ways children develop Cerebral Palsy are through birth injury are:

• Forceps delivery
• Vacuum extraction delivery
• Exceptionally prolonged labor
• Low levels of amniotic fluid
• Twisted, compressed, or tangled umbilical cord
• Macrosomia or a baby that is too big for its development
• Placental abruption
• Excessive bleeding

During delivery doctors will monitor the baby for any of these conditions. Fetal heart rate and pH are measured through the scalp in order to monitor the progression of delivery and anticipate any potential complications. Should any problems arise in delivery the doctor can order many alternative procedures such as an emergency C-section.

Unfortunately, more and more doctors are making the wrong decision and the moment of truth, and thousands of babies and their families must pay the price for these errors in judgment.

If you are one of these unfortunate families that has had to cope with the aftereffects of a birth injury that caused Cerebral Palsy, you should contact a lawyer right away. Always protect your legal rights, and waste no time in seeking justice for your child. You may be entitled to compensation that could change your and your child's life forever. Consult a lawyer today.

Other Birth Injuries

While Cerebral Palsy is one of the most common birth injuries, it is far from the only type of harm that a newborn child can suffer from. Deliveries are complicated and chaotic events, and the wrong split second decision can affect a child and a family for a lifetime.

Birth injuries can occur for a variety of different reasons, but most stem from either severe injury to the head or damage to one of several vital nerve junctions. Newborn baby bodies are incredibly fragile; sometimes even emerging from the birth canal can be too traumatic for some children to endure. Some of the more common birth injuries include:

• Erb's Palsy: A condition of the shoulder than can affect arm movement and sensation
• Shoulder Dystocia: A difficult birthing situation that can cause severe damage to the nerves, tendons, and muscles in a newborn
• Brachial Plexus Palsy: A disabling condition to a vital nerve junction that can cause several movement and sensation problems
• Birth Asphyxia: A common birth situation whereby a newborn cannot get enough oxygen
• Klumpke's Palsy: A type of Brachial Plexus Palsy that affects the fingers and wrists

Each of these conditions can be prevented by vigilant and competent natal care specialists. Unfortunately, many babies suffer injuries that could have been prevented. If your child has suffered any of these injuries it is important to know about your legal rights. Contact an attorney today. Your child deserves it.

Kernicterus

Jaundice is a condition extremely common in newborn babies. It is relatively easy to spot, as it causes the yellowing of the eyes and skin. Kernicterus is a type of brain damage caused by out-of-control jaundice. This serious condition is caused by a build up of bilirubin so excessive that it begins to move out of the blood and into the brain tissue, where it can cause serious injury and damage. In grown adults the body's natural physiological responses such as the blood-brain barrier protects the brain, but in infants this response has not matured to the point where it will prevent damage.

The first sign of kernicterus is when a baby is overly fatigued and difficult to arouse. Other symptoms include decreased muscle tone (hypotonic or floppy), increased muscle tone (hypertonic), head tilting, or a high pitched cry. Once the condition progresses, it can lead to fever, brain damage, and severe contortion of the head. If doctors fail to diagnose this condition with its relatively obvious symptoms they can sometimes held responsible for their negligence.

Erbs Palsy

Erbs palsy, also called brachial plexus palsy, is a condition that has detrimental effects on the nerves that control the muscles in the hand and arm. This causes symptoms including a limp arm, lack of muscle control in the arm, or a decrease in sensation of the hand or arm. Erbs palsy is a result of damage to one or more of the nerves of the brachial plexus, located on both sides of the neck between the neck and shoulder. These nerves run from the spinal cord through the arm to the hand and wrist.

There are four different ways the nerves in the brachial plexus can be injured, causing Erbs palsy. These include avulsion, rupture, praxis or stretch, and neuroma. Avulsion describes the nerve being completely torn away from the spine, rupture occurs when the nerve is torn in an area other than where it attaches to the spine, praxis or stretch is the condition when the nerve is injured or damaged but not torn, and with neuroma scar tissue has developed around the nerve as it heals, preventing the nerve from sending signals from the spine to the arm or hand.

Injuries to the brachial plexus can inhibit one from conducting a variety of movements that require the use of the arms. When these injuries occur and Erbs palsy is a result of the birth process, symptoms can last a lifetime. If your child suffers from Erbs palsy, it is your responsibility as a concerned parent to contact an experienced attorney. You may have legal rights that will allow your child to reach his or her full potential.

Shoulder Dystocia

Delivery is a complicated process. One of the most traumatic complications of delivery is Shoulder dystocia. This condition occurs during childbirth when the shoulder of the baby cannot emerge from the birth canal properly or requires significant manipulation for correct delivery.

If the shoulder of the baby is caught in the birth canal, aggressive pulling on the child can cause several potential complications that can lead to Cerebral Palsy. It can sever, stretch, or pull off the nerves that control arm movements and sensation called Brachial Plexus Palsy.

Shoulder dystocia can be prevented through attentive management during delivery. Ultrasounds can reveal if the delivery could possibly be affected by shoulder dystocia, and experienced doctors can plan to prevent it. Should the doctor miss these signals, the clearest indication of shoulder dystocia is the so-called "turtle sign," where in the baby's head retracts into the mother shortly after it crowns. Proper care is critical at this point to minimize the number of complications.

Unfortunately, many obstetricians fail to make the correct decision at the moment of truth, and thousands of families must suffer the consequences of these mistakes for the rest of their lives.

If you are one of these families who have suffered the consequences of shoulder dystocia, you need to contact a dedicated, experienced, and compassionate Cerebral Palsy lawyer. You owe it yourself, and you owe it to your children. Consult us today.

Brachial Plexus Palsy

Brachial plexus palsy is a condition that is caused by a birth injury to the brachial plexus. This is the network of nerves located near the shoulder that manages movement and sensation in the arm. Children who are afflicted with brachial plexus palsy may experience weak or paralyzed muscles in the shoulder, arm, and hand.

Brachial plexus palsy is usually diagnosed in the newborn nursery, and treated by a multidisciplinary brachial plexus team. The injury is a result of forcible downward pressing of the shoulder during delivery, which stretches or injures the brachial plexus. Medical professionals estimate that two out of every 1,000 births result in some form of brachial plexus palsy.

There are several forms of brachial plexus injuries which vary in severity and the area of the plexus that is damaged. Upper brachial plexus palsy, also called Erb's palsy, is a result of damage to the upper part of the nerve plexus. Total brachial plexus palsy affects the entire brachial plexus; lower brachial plexus palsy is rare and is isolated to the lower plexus. Finally, bilateral injuries affect the brachial plexus on both sides of the body and can have severe consequences.

Brachial plexus palsy is a condition that sometimes results in lifelong impairment. If your child has suffered from brachial plexus palsy, it is important to know your legal rights as a concerned parent. You owe it to your family to be vigilant in this difficult and confusing time.

Birth Asphyxia

Birth asphyxia is a condition that results from a baby not receiving ample oxygen before, during, or immediately following birth. Birth asphyxia can cause cerebral palsy in some cases because the lack of oxygen to the brain creates brain damage. It is estimated that nine percent of all cerebral palsy cases are a result of birth asphyxia.

The causes of birth asphyxia can be related to the mother, the child, or sometimes the quality of medical attention received during the delivery process. Physicians are trained to look for warning signs of birth asphyxia. When these signs are ignored or missed the unthinkable may occur, resulting in brain damage or even death.

Birth asphyxia is a very serious issue that can result in expensive malpractice suits for doctors. If birth asphyxia has taken place in your family, you should be fully aware of your legal rights. Contact an experienced attorney today to learn more about the actions you can take to obtain the reparations you deserve.

Klumpkes Palsy

Klumpke's palsy is a form of brachial plexus palsy that produces paralysis in the muscles of the forearm and hand. It is a result of injury to the nerves in the lower brachial plexus. Such an injury can occur during the birth process as a result of shoulder dystocia. Children who suffer from Klumpke's palsy typically exhibit a lack of movement in the wrists or hands.

It is very rare to have an isolated case of Klumpke's palsy. This is due to the location of the nerves involved with brachial plexus injuries. However, it is more common to find Klumpke's palsy along with other birth complications such as Erb's palsy. Klumpke's palsy is also sometimes seen alongside Horner's syndrome, a result of damage to the sympathetic nervous system.

Klumpke's palsy can prevent your child from reaching his or her full potential. As a parent, it is important to discuss this matter with an experienced lawyer who can inform you of your rights. By meeting with an attorney, you can put your child and your family on a path leading towards a brighter tomorrow.

Products that Cause Birth Injuries

Delivering babies has long been one of the most wonderful and also most complicated medical procedures. Until fairly recently, women brought children into the world with little to no technological aids or sophisticated medical equipment. These mechanical marvels were intended and designed to increase the number of births of healthy children, and while it is true that infant mortality in the United States has significantly dropped over the past few decades, in the wrong hands the right technology is worthless at best and deadly at worst.

This notion is particularly unsettling considering the fact that injuries suffered during birth will plague a family for the rest of the child's life. Further complicating this unfortunate situation is that certain conditions such as Cerebral Palsy cannot be cured, corrected, or improved regardless of the love, hope, and therapy provided by heartbroken yet devoted parents.

Two of the primary culprits that cause birth injury are the forceps and vacuum delivery systems. Forceps are essentially a medical version of common salad tongs that grip around the head of a newborn in order to facilitate progression through the birth canal. Although they are designed to maintain a specific light grip, the chaotic and complicated atmosphere of childbirth often causes these devices to grip too tightly, turn the head of the baby in the wrong direction, or cause serious compression injuries.

Vacuum delivery is a complicated form of delivery assistance whereby a soft plastic cup is attached to the top of the baby's head, which combined with hopefully gentle vacuum pressure allows the doctor to maneuver the child into proper birthing condition. Unfortunately deliveries are rarely simple affairs, and sometimes vacuum delivery causes lasting neurological problems to the baby.

Forceps Delivery

For the last 400 years, forceps have been helping obstetricians deliver babies quickly and easily. These delicate medical devices are intended to gently clamp around a baby's head while it is still in the birth canal and provide leverage during delivery. Medical forceps are designed with a special locking mechanism that should ideally prevent the clamps from gripping too tightly, but as with every device there are potential risks.

While initially a great boon for aiding in birth, forceps have been known to cause a number of serious problems to the newborn if the devices are used incorrectly. If the forceps are too tight, the doctor risks seriously damaging the delicate nerves around the face of the baby, and incorrect maneuvering of the device can cause skull fractures or even damage to the umbilical cord which causes the baby to asphyxiate for a few moments.

Although forceps were a standard delivery aid for generations, their use has fallen out of favor recently due to their link to incidents of cerebral palsy. As delivery becomes more and more complicated, alternate methods of helping deliver babies must be developed. This is a small comfort to those parents whose children will forever be affected by the mistake of a careless doctor.

Vacuum Delivery

Many childbirths go as planned. The baby is in the correct position for proper delivery and the mother and doctor work as one to bring a new life into the world. Other times delivery is more complicated due to a number of factors, and one of the most common hurdles occurs when the position of the baby is not conducive to childbirth. A machine called a vacuum extractor - often called a Ventous procedure - was developed to assist in the birthing process.

A small soft plastic cup is placed on the baby's head, and suction creates a firm seal around the scalp. If all goes well, the obstetrician gently pulls the baby out of the birth canal, removes the device, and proceeds with the delivery as normal.

Unfortunately, not everything always goes as planned during such a complicated and chaotic event as childbirth. If the doctor uses the incorrect amount of suction or too much pressure, the baby can experience serious complications.

One of these complications is cerebral palsy. Any trauma to a newborn's head before or during delivery can have lasting repercussions. Sometimes this trauma does not manifest for months or years after birth, and tragically will be with the child throughout their life.