Birth Injuries Caused by Forceps Delivery

Has your child suffered serious injury due to the use of forceps during delivery? Call our Dallas birth injury attorneys today at (214) 617-1886.

The use of tools to assist in childbirth has become quite common with “difficult” deliveries. Even though they can be beneficial when used appropriately, a staggering percentage of birth injuries are connected to the improper use of assisted delivery tools such as forceps.

A pair of obstetric forceps closely resembles large salad tongs, and is used to assist in difficult deliveries. The forceps are usually placed around the head of the infant to guide the child’s body during the delivery process. The majority of physicians agree that there is sometimes a risk of a birth injury with a forceps delivery, but this often only occurs when the procedure is performed incorrectly.

The most common reason a physician might resort to the use of forceps is when the mother is not able to deliver the baby by herself. There are a number of reasons this can happen:

• Exhaustion of the mother
• Prolonged labor during the second stage of delivery
• Infection or illness
• Hemorrhage
• Drugs that prevent the mother from successfully pushing the baby

Additionally, an OBGYN may elect to use forceps in the case of a breech birth or a problematic reading on the fetal monitor.

Risks of forceps delivery.

Forceps delivery presents risks for the mother as well as the baby. Some of the potential risks to the infant include:

• Skull fractures/deformation
• Brain damage
• Facial or eye injuries
• Seizures
• Bruising and swelling on the head
• Bleeding within the skull

Risks to the mother can include:

• Perineum pain
• Fecal and/or urinary continence
• Injuries to the bladder
• Injuries to the urethra
• Anemia
• Tears and lacerations in the lower part of the genital area

Even if the health care provider does an episiotomy, there is a risk of postpartum bleeding and infection.

It’s important to take a forceps delivery seriously. You need to be certain to have your baby’s brain evaluated for a number of related birth injuries that could possibly lead to serious health issues such as:

• Seizure disorders
• Cerebral palsy
• Strokes
• Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

Our attorneys have handled these type of cases before. Let us help you.

If your child has suffered injuries due to a forceps delivery in Dallas (or anywhere in Texas), our firm can help you seek compensation from those responsible. To speak with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys today, fill out the contact form on this page or call our office (toll-free) at (214) 617-1886.

At Rasansky Law Firm, we never get paid unless we’re able to win your case or secure a settlement on your child’s behalf.