Basic Facts About Birth Injuries

Learn about the basic facts of birth injuries and determine if you need the help of a St. Louis medical malpractice attorney.

A St. Louis medical malpractice attorney can check the medical  records of your child to determine if a mistake by the doctor contributed to the injury.  You may be able to seek compensation for the birth injury. Following are some answers to questions regarding birth injures.

Can a Doctor Be Held Liable for Injuries On the Arms and Hands of a Baby After a Difficult Delivery?

Although a doctor may have committed some errors that resulted in the birth injury on the baby, these conditions may also happen naturally. Some birth injuries, like a brachial plexus injury, may be the result of the failure of the doctor in anticipating some delivery issues and the inability to handle them well. However, it will be necessary to check on the medical records of the mother in order to be fully certain that the doctor is liable for any injuries incurred by the baby at birth.

The only thing that is certain is a doctor will not likely admit to committing any mistakes during the delivery that caused the birth injury. It is important to discuss the facts about the case with an experienced St. Louis medical malpractice lawyer and evaluate the conditions of the birth injury.

Is the Size of the Baby a Factor in Potential Birth Injuries?

Large babies normally make delivery difficult. This is the reason why obstetricians should inquire whether the family has a history of giving birth to large babies and check whether the conditions for the development of large babies are observed during pregnancy. When shoulders of oversized babies get stuck along the birth canal, force may have to be used by the doctor in delivering the baby, which may result in birth injuries.

Are There Different Types of Brachial Plexus Injuries?

Since birth injuries may happen when the wide shoulders of a baby get stuck along the pelvic bone of the mother, the doctor may use force in delivering the baby. Birth injuries may include stretched nerve fibres that cause weakness on the arms and hands, tissue damage, and total nerve tears along the spinal column, which may require surgery.

Are Shoulder Dystocia Injuries Common?

Around one out of seven vaginal births will have this complication when the shoulders of a large baby are stuck along the pelvic bone of the mother. Shoulder dystocia may cause a number of birth injuries, like skeletal fractures, cerebral palsy, Erb’s Palsy, and Klumpke’s Palsy.

Is There Anything a Doctor Can Do to Prevent Erb’s Palsy?

Erb’s Palsy is among the most common birth injuries. It is the most frequently reported type of brachial plexus injury. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons indicates that around 2 out of 1,000 babies develop Erb’s Palsy at birth. The birth defect is normally a result of stretched shoulder and neck nerve fibres following a difficult delivery, breech presentation birth, or extended labor. The medical records can be checked by a qualified St. Louis medical malpractice attorney to determine whether a mistake by the doctor was a factor in the injury and whether the mother can seek compensation for the birth injury. Call Zevan and Davidson Law Firm at (314) 588-7200 for a free consultation.

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