Causes of Injury During Childbirth

Injuries during child birth are not as uncommon as we would hope.  There are a wide array of injuries that can occur to the baby. In some unfortunate cases, the injury may have been preventable if the delivering doctor or hospital staff performed within the acceptable level of care.

Injuries are most likely to occur during difficult births, where the use of forced extraction such as forceps or vacuum suction is required. Additionally, some births will require a c-section to prevent injury to the baby.  Many such difficult births can be predicted, and therefore injury prevented by addressing the risk of injury before it occurs.

It has been estimated that of every 1,000 births in the US, about six will result in moderate to severe injury to the baby. Moderate injury includes bruising, scratches or even mild bone fractures that will heal relatively quickly.

The more serious injuries include brachial plexus palsy, or cerebral palsy which is a permanent brain injury. In some cases, the injury may have been avoided had the doctor acted appropriately. Below are some of the more common causes of birth injury:

Forced Extraction or Assisted Delivery

In cases of difficult births, the doctor may have to assist the mother to get the baby out. Common techniques include using a vacuum method, where a suction cup like device will be used to pull the baby out by the head while the mother continues to push.

Another tool that may be used less frequently is forceps, a tong like device.  The forceps are used to get traction on the baby’s head and assist in getting the baby out.

In either case, if the doctor does not perform these delicate procedures with the required level of care, it is possible to injure the baby.

Births Involving Cesarean Section

During some childbirths, it may be necessary to perform a c-section to prevent injury to the baby. Commonly, in cases of prolonged labor or failure to progress, the doctor may elect to remove the baby via a cesarean section.

In cases where the baby is in distress, or the umbilical cord has become constricted, a failure to timely perform a c-section can cause severe, and sometimes permanent injury.

Medication Errors

With regard to childbirth, there are generally three functions of medication: Pain, anesthesia and labor induction. Most commonly, medications will be used to alleviate pain during the labor and delivery. Many pregnant women will attempt to avoid using any pain medications for fear of causing unnecessary harm to the baby. In reality, when used with care, medications are very unlikely to cause any damage to the baby.

When determining the types of medication or drugs to be used, one of the most critical factors is the stage of labor. If used to early or too late, medication may have unwanted effects, or may cause damage to the fetus.

Additionally, the amount of drug that is used should always be kept to a minimum to reduce the amount that crosses the placenta into the baby’s bloodstream.

Failure to Monitor

Once at the hospital, timely and careful monitoring of both the fetus and the mother is critical for a successful delivery. The mother should be placed in a room and a fetal heart monitor should be set-up immediately.

Any failure to properly monitor the vital signs of the mother and baby can have catastrophic effects. Some of the most disastrous injuries, such as cerebral palsy, may have been prevented had the medical staff monitored the baby properly and reacted to irregularities in a timely and appropriate fashion.

Medical Malpractice Claims Involving Birth Injury

All parents hope for a healthy newborn, but birth injuries are an unfortunate reality. In cases where the injury was due to the negligence of a doctor or medical staff, parents should be compensated for their suffering, their child's suffering, and for the burden that the injury may place on them for the rest of their lives.

Due to the nature of medical malpractice law, deciding to file a claim against a doctor or hospital for medical malpractice is complicated.  It is critical that anyone in such a situation take the time to meet with an attorney experienced in medical malpractice cases. These lawyers are familiar with the way a medical malpractice case works, and will be able to evaluate a particular situation and give guidance regarding the options for the injured party.