“Birth injury” and “birth trauma” normally refer to an injury that results from complications during labor and delivery. Improper medical care or medical negligence during childbirth may cause physical harm to the child, mother, or both. Birth injuries range from mild to severe. They can range from minor bruising to nerve or brain damage.

Pat S. Montes is a beneficial partner who can assist you in evaluating a specific incident for the possibility of medical malpractice. Common injuries include the following:

• Brain Injury – an injury that can cause broken bones, nerve injury, or brain damage
• Brachial Palsy Injuries – a weakness of the arm or loss of movement that occurs when a collection of nerves around the shoulder are damaged during birth
• Caput Succedaneum – severe swelling of the soft tissue of the baby’s scalp that develops as the baby travels through the birth canal (Babies delivered by vacuum extraction are more likely to have this condition.)
• Cephalohematoma – an area of bleeding between the head’s fibrous covering and the bone, often appearing several hours after birth as a raised lump on the baby’s head
• Facial Paralysis – injury to the facial nerve caused by pressure on a baby’s face during labor or birth; Facial Paralysis can also occur with the use of forceps for delivery. This injury is usually seen when the baby cries (there is no movement on the side of the face with the injury, and the eye cannot be closed). If the nerve was torn, surgery may be needed.
• Fractured Bones – a fracture to the collarbone or the clavicle; one of the most common fractures during labor and delivery