At Connor, Marr & Pinski, we understand the profound and life-altering impact a birth injury can have on a child and their family. Witnessing the struggles of your newborn after a preventable birth injury can be devastating.
Our compassionate and experienced Montana birth injury attorneys are dedicated to fighting for the rights of children who have suffered injuries due to medical negligence during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. We hold negligent medical professionals accountable and work tirelessly to secure the compensation your child needs for a lifetime of care and support.
What is Considered a Birth Injury?
A birth injury is any physical or neurological injury a baby sustains before, during, or shortly after birth. Birth trauma can range from minor and temporary (such as bruising) to severe and lifelong (such as cerebral palsy).
While some birth injuries are unavoidable, many are caused by medical negligence, such as:
- Failure to monitor fetal distress: If a doctor or midwife fails to identify signs of fetal distress during pregnancy or labor, it can lead to oxygen deprivation and brain damage.
- Forceps or vacuum extraction misuse: Improper use of these instruments during delivery can cause skull fractures, facial paralysis, and nerve damage.
- Delayed C-section: In some cases, a delayed C-section can lead to birth injuries that could have been prevented.
- Medication errors: Medication mistakes during pregnancy or labor can have harmful consequences for both mother and baby.
- Rough handling during delivery: Excessive force or improper techniques during delivery can cause bruises, bone fractures, and nerve damage to the newborn.
Common Birth Injuries
While many types of birth injuries exist, some of the most common include:
- Caput succedaneum: This is a temporary swelling of the scalp caused by pressure during delivery. It is usually harmless and resolves on its own within a few days.
- Cephalohematoma: This is a collection of blood under the scalp that appears as a bump. While typically harmless, it occasionally requires monitoring to ensure no underlying bleeding occurs.
- Subgaleal hemorrhage: This is a more serious collection of blood between the scalp and the skull bone. While often self-resolving, it can sometimes require treatment to prevent complications.
- Brachial plexus injuries: These injuries involve damage to the nerves in the shoulder and arm, causing weakness, paralysis, and limited mobility (Erb's palsy and Klumpke-Trenaunay syndrome are types of brachial plexus injuries).
- Facial paralysis: This can occur due to nerve damage during delivery, affecting facial expressions and sometimes even eye function.
- Bone fractures: Fractures of the clavicle (collarbone) or humerus (upper arm bone) can happen during delivery, especially in breech births.
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE): This is a brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation during childbirth. HIE can lead to intellectual disabilities, seizures, and developmental delays.
- Cerebral palsy: This is a group of movement disorders affecting a child's ability to control their muscles. Cerebral palsy can be caused by brain damage before, during, or shortly after birth due to oxygen deprivation or other factors.
Birth Injuries in Mothers
While our primary focus is on birth injuries sustained by newborns, childbirth can also take a physical toll on mothers. Some birth injuries in mothers can be serious and long-lasting, and medical negligence can play a role.
Here are some common birth injuries in mothers:
- Vaginal and perineal tears: These are tears in the tissue of the vagina and perineum (the area between the vagina and anus) that occur during delivery. While most tears are minor and heal well, severe third and fourth-degree tears can cause lasting pain, incontinence, and sexual dysfunction.
- Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH): This is excessive bleeding after childbirth. PPH can be life-threatening if not promptly addressed. Medical negligence, such as failing to properly manage delivery or not recognizing signs of hemorrhage, can contribute to PPH.
- Uterine rupture: This is a rare but serious complication where the uterus tears during childbirth. Uterine rupture can be caused by forceful contractions, a previous C-section, or improper use of instruments like forceps.
- Pelvic organ prolapse (POP): This occurs when the muscles and tissues supporting the pelvic organs weaken, causing the organs to slip down into the vagina. While POP can happen naturally over time, a difficult delivery or use of forceps can increase the risk.
- Fistula: This is a hole that develops between the vagina and bladder or rectum. Fistulas are rare but can cause incontinence and infection. Medical negligence during childbirth or C-section can increase the risk of fistula formation.
If you experienced a birth injury as a mother, it's important to seek medical attention and discuss your concerns with your doctor. Additionally, you may have legal options to pursue compensation for your injuries.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Birth Injury Case?
If your child suffered a birth injury due to medical negligence, several parties could potentially be held liable, including:
- Obstetricians and gynecologists (OB-GYNs)
- Midwives
- Anesthesiologists
- Nurses
- Hospitals and medical facilities
Why Choose Connor, Marr & Pinski for Your Birth Injury Case
At Connor, Marr & Pinski, we understand the complexities of birth injury cases. Our legal team has extensive experience investigating medical malpractice claims and holding negligent medical professionals accountable.
The future of your child depends on the decisions you make today. If your child has suffered a birth injury, contact Connor, Marr & Pinski for a free consultation. We will review the details of your case and answer your questions.
Let us fight for the compensation your child deserves so they can receive the best possible care and live a fulfilling life.
