What are the main types of birth injuries?

Answer:

Birth injuries can range from minor conditions that heal quickly to severe, lifelong disabilities. The most common types include:

• Cerebral palsy: Caused by brain damage from oxygen deprivation, infections, or trauma during delivery.
• Brachial plexus injuries: Includes Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy, often resulting from shoulder dystocia or excessive force during delivery.
• Infections: Such as Group B strep, meningitis, or untreated maternal infections that harm the newborn.
• Brain damage: Resulting from oxygen loss, bleeding in the brain, or trauma during delivery.
• Cephalohematoma and caput succedaneum: Bruising or bleeding beneath the cranial bones.
• Fractures and nerve injuries: Most often affecting the collarbone, arm, or facial nerves during difficult deliveries.
• Shoulder dystocia complications: When the baby’s shoulder becomes stuck in the birth canal.
• Neural tube defects: Such as spina bifida, sometimes linked to folic acid deficiency.
• Circulatory and respiratory injuries: Including persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN).
• Oxygen deprivation injuries: Such as hypoxia, anoxic brain injury, birth asphyxia, or perinatal asphyxia.
• Wrongful death: In the most tragic cases, severe injuries result in the loss of the newborn’s life.

Some birth injuries are preventable and occur due to medical negligence. If your child has suffered a birth injury, a legal review can help determine whether malpractice played a role and whether your family may be entitled to compensation.

Need answers? Contact the Dallas birth injury lawyers at Rasansky Law Firm today at (214) 651-6100 for a free consultation.