May 22, 2015

Birth injury refers to injuries sustained during the birthing process, usually in exiting the birthing canal. It may also include injuries that occur during the prenatal period, as well as shortly following the birth. While many newborns sustain injuries during birth that can be resolved without treatment, some injuries can be permanent, leading to life-long complications and need for care and treatment. In these serious cases, parents should consider contacting a medical malpractice attorney in Washington DC and investigating further into the cause of the newborn’s injury.

Oxygen deprivation
A significant number of brain related birth injuries are related to oxygen deprivation. The resulting injuries from oxygen deprivation range from mild to severe. Infants who have suffered oxygen deprivation to their brain may develop cognitive and physical deficits that are severe and permanent. Oxygen deprivation can result s from external forces, such as a kinked or prolapsed umbilical cord, or other conditions that can develop during the course of the pregnancy and delivery process.

Common Causes of Birth Injuries | Washington, DCDelayed birth 
An fetus’s brain can only sustain a certain amount of pressure for a certain time period. If labor lasts many hours or is considered to be long and difficult, the fetus’s brain will have difficulty withstanding the compression. At this point, the fetus will show signs of distress, as his or her brain begins reacting to the emergency and the baby’s blood pressure rises.

Medical malpractice
Doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and emergency medical technicians can all make medical errors that lead to birth injuries. Medical malpractice refers to cases where there has been medical negligence or hospital error. Certain birth injuries are obvious following delivery, like bruises, broken bones and lacerations. There are some severe birth injuries that may only be discoverable over time. For example, it may take time for parents or doctors and hospital staff to recognize developmental delays, pain in the baby’s limbs, soft bulges on the baby’s head, stiff muscles, or variations in muscle tone.