5 Common Birth Injuries Caused by Medical Negligence

Did you know medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States? Although not all injuries during childbirth are caused by medical malpractice, it is still important to know how common they actually are. If you're an expecting mother, it's important to watch out for signs of medical negligence before, during and after labor.

Examples of common birth injuries include:

Bone Fractures

One in every thousand childbirths results in a bone fracture injury during the delivery process. The most common is a fracture to the clavicle. This can happen when a physician pulls on the infant too hard while the baby is in breech position. Luckily, these types of bone fractures can heal in about 10 days.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

Erb's Palsy and Klumpke's palsy occur when the brachial plexus is injured. The brachial plexus is the bundle of nerves that are responsible for moving a baby's arms and hands. If a physician pulls too hard or incorrectly while the baby is being delivered, the brachial plexus can be damaged.

Brain Hemorrhage

These can also be referred to as brain bleeds and they are a type of traumatic birth injury that can range from severe to minor. Brain hemorrhages can be caused by the improper use of delivery instruments such as forceps or vacuum extractors.

The different types of hemorrhages include cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, and cephalohematoma.

Cerebral Palsy

In about 10 to 15 percent of cases, CP is the result of medical negligence. The three main factors of negligence related to this lifelong injury include delayed diagnosis, a mother and her baby might have different blood types (Rh incompatibility) and restricted oxygen to the child's brain during delivery.

Facial Paralysis

Facial trauma during childbirth is the loss of controllable muscle movement on an infants face. This injury can occur when there is too much pressure on the facial nerve just before or at the time of an infants birth.

Kernicterus and Severe Jaundice

Kernicterus, also known as Hyperbilirubinemia, is a rare neurological condition that can occur when an infant has a severe form of jaundice. If a physician fails to monitor the high levels of bilirubin in the child's blood, kernicterus can qualify as medical negligence. If this condition goes untreated, severe brain damage or death can occur.