Birth Injury Lawyers

Serving Los Angeles, San Diego,
and the Southern California Areas

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During childbirth, sometimes, the baby may suffer a physical injury that is simply the result of being born. This is called birth trauma or birth injury. There are times, however, when the injury is caused by a mistake on the part of the doctor or some other medical professional delivering the baby.

There are many causes of birth injury including:

  • Large babies (birth weight over 8 pounds, 13 ounces)
  • Premature birth (babies born before 37 weeks) causes fragile bodies that are more prone to injury during birth
  • Cephalopelvic disproportion (the size and shape of the mother's pelvis is not adequate for the baby to be born vaginally)
  • Dystocia (difficult labor or childbirth)
  • Prolonged labor
  • Abnormal birthing presentation such as a breech delivery

The rate of birth injuries is much lower than in previous decades, but birth injuries do still happen and the results can often be devastating to the life of the child.

Some of the resulting injuries of these difficult births include:

  • Cephalohematoma: This is an area of bleeding between the bone and its fibrous covering. If the area of bleeding is large, some babies may develop jaundice as the red blood cells break down.
  • Facial paralysis: During labor or birth, pressure on a baby's face may cause the facial nerve to be injured. Forceps may also cause this. The injury is often seen when the baby cries for the first time as there is no movement on the side of the face with the injury and the eye cannot close.
  • Fractures: Fractures of the clavicle (collarbone) is the most common fracture during labor and delivery. The clavicle may break when there is difficulty delivering the baby's shoulder or during a breech birth.
  • Brachial plexus injury: Brachial palsy (also known as Erb's Palsy) occurs when the brachial plexus (group of nerves that supplies the arms and hands) is injured. This happens often when there is dystocia. Tearing of the nerve may result in permanent nerve damage. A newborn with Erb's palsy will have his arm straight down at his side and will not move it and sometimes the arm may be slightly turned with a bent wrist and straight fingers.
  • Cerebral palsy: CP is a permanent and irreversible crippling condition that affects the brain and central nervous system. Possible causes of CP during the birth process are unrecognized or untreated signs of fetal distress; the baby being stuck in the birth canal because of its size or position; placenta being prematurely sheared by the birth process; and untreated umbilical cord compression.

The birth of a child is supposed to be one of the most joyous occasions in a woman's life, and most deliveries go smoothly and without injury. However, complications do arise during pregnancy and delivery, and these problems may result in serious and long-term injury to your newborn baby. If the harm to your baby was unavoidable, it is important to be aware of your legal rights regarding the birth.

Please contact the birth injury attorneys in Southern California at Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices today to schedule your initial consultation.

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