One of the most frightening prospects any parent can face is finding out their child was born with a serious birth injury. There are several types of birth injuries that can occur during the labor or delivery stage, including injuries to the brain of the baby from a lack of oxygen or blood flow, or from trauma or infection; trauma occurring for example if the baby can't fit through the birth canal and forceps or vacuum suction improperly applied cause physical damage to the infant.
Often, these injuries are preventable. For example, if the baby's head is too large to fit through the birth canal, a doctor likely could have prevented the birth injury by using a caesarean section to remove the baby. If the baby did not receive adequate oxygen or blood flow to the brain and was born with cerebral palsy for example, the problem may have been traced back to a number of factors, including the failure of the doctor to detect a prolapsed umbilical cord, or failing to perform a C-section if necessary.
Preventable birth injuries may occur if the medical staff fails to properly monitor the fetal heart rate monitor. The fetal monitor strip is the baby's way of communicating with the doctors and nurses during the mothers labor. See the fetal monitor strip video for a visual demonstration of how to interpret a fetal monitor strip. Doctors and nurses look at the fetal monitor strips to see where there are abnormalities or problems that should be recognized during labor. If the baby's heart rate suddenly drops, the fetal heart rate monitor will alert the medical staff so proper action can be taken to save the baby. However, if the staff fails to monitor the fetal heart rate monitor or act swiftly when an emergency arises, the baby may be deprived of adequate blood and oxygen flow to the brain and other organs of the body, which may cause severe permanent injuries, even death.
There are many types of preventable birth injuries that may occur during labor or delivery. Brachial plexus injuries involve damage to the nerves that exit the spinal cord in the neck and supply nerve impulses to the arms. If the head of the baby is twisted or bent to an extreme during the birthing process, such as when a doctor tries to twist the baby's head that is too big to easily fit through the birth canal, these nerves can be stretched and damaged, leading to paralysis in the arms or hands, or the ability for a baby to sit up or crawl.
A lack of oxygen flow to the brain of the baby, known as hypoxia or asphyxia, can lead to severe injuries, including paralysis and cerebral palsy, if not detected early and corrected. The fetal heart rate monitor can also help warn medical staff if the baby's heart is not functioning properly and delivering a proper blood and oxygen supply to various organs of the body, including the brain.
If there have been any major problems during labor or delivery, and the baby requires admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the parents need to understand the possibility of long term care for their child. The parents should request a pediatric neurologist or developmental pediatrician to outline a plan for therapy and medical intervention early in the child's life. If medical negligence or medical malpractice was the cause of the birth injury, the parents should seek a consultation with a medical malpractice attorney who specializes in birth injuries as soon as possible. If medical negligence was the cause of the injury, financial compensation may be awarded to pay for the medical care the child may require for the rest of his or her life.
