Birth Injuries Lawyer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Birth injuries can cause permanent damage to the baby and the mother. These are some of the most common types of birth injuries:

Cerebral Palsy

The most common effect of cerebral palsy is difficulty with movement and coordination. The care and treatment of this condition’s long-term effects can cost thousands of dollars.

RH Factor Incompatibility

Rh factor incompatibility indicates that the mother and fetus have different blood types.

If the father is Rh-positive and the mother is Rh-negative, there is a chance that the fetus will inherit the father’s blood type rather than the mother’s. The blood type in the mother’s system will generate antibodies to attack the fetal red blood cells, causing various complications for the fetus and perhaps resulting in their death.

Erb’s Palsy

Erb’s palsy produces varying degrees of weakness in the shoulder, arm, and hand. It is produced by exerting too much stress on the baby’s head while attempting to pull it out of the birth canal. The paralysis or weakness happens from a nerve injury in the “brachial plexus.” The brachial plexus is a collection of nerve fibers between the shoulder and the neck.

Pulling too hard on the baby’s head during birth can cause these nerves to strain and, in extreme circumstances, detach from the spine.

Shoulder Dystocia

Shoulder dystocia occurs when one or both of the baby’s shoulders become caught on the pubic bone of the mother, preventing the normal delivery progression. Even though there are many warning indicators, there is no way to anticipate whether or not a child is in danger of shoulder dystocia.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) can be devastating for newborns. The condition has three components: hypoxia, ischemia, and encephalopathy. This means oxygen and blood supply to the brain become limited (hypoxia and ischemia), causing damage to the brain (encephalopathy).

Kernicterus

Kernicterus is a severe form of newborn brain injury caused by extreme jaundice or high bilirubin levels. Kernicterus can result in brainstem lesions that impair a child’s hearing, eye movement, and balance.

Jaundice in and of itself is not hazardous to babies, but if doctors allow bilirubin levels to rise excessively and do not offer therapy, neonates may develop kernicterus.

Placental Abruption

This often occurs in the third trimester. If the mother gets a placental abruption that is not quickly detected and treated, she might bleed, depriving the baby’s brain of oxygen.

Group B Strep (GBS)

Group B Strep (GBS) is a fatal bacterial illness. Typically, the GBS bacteria inhabit the intestines, rectum, and vagina. During childbirth, the mother might transmit the bacteria to the infant.

Facial Paralysis

Intense pressure on the baby’s face during childbirth can damage the facial nerve, resulting in paralysis.

Fractures

Your baby’s collarbone might be shattered during birth. Fortunately, the healing period is only two weeks since new bone begins to develop relatively rapidly. The fracture can be painful, and your child has to wear a soft bandage or splint to restrict arm and shoulder movement.

Hypoxia or Anoxia

Anoxia and hypoxia are circumstances in which the oxygen supply to an organ’s tissues is either diminished or absent. This typically occurs when the blood supply is interrupted, such as when there is an issue with the umbilical cord. Oxygen deficiency can cause cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, developmental problems, and hearing or visual impairments.