What types of birth injuries are the most common?

For every 1,000 babies born in the United States, seven are affected by preventable birth injuries. Moreover, 80% of these birth injuries are moderate or severe. Birth injuries vary per case, and the most common types include:

• Brain damage
• Caput succedaneum
• Cephalohematoma, commonly known as skull bleeding
• Cerebral palsy
• Facial paralysis

• Fractures (usually fractures of the collarbone, upper arm, or upper leg)
• Forceps or vacuum extractor complications (scalp scratches, bruising, forceps marks)
• Hydrocephalus
• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
• Infant meningitis
• Intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD)
• Kernicterus
• Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS)
• Newborn jaundice (if left untreated, it may lead to Kernicterus)
• Perinatal asphyxia
• Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL)
• Shoulder dystocia
• Spinal cord injuries
• Stillbirth (intrauterine fetal demise)
• Various types of hemorrhage (subconjunctival, subgaleal, subarachnoid, Subdural, epidural, intraventricular, intraparenchymal, etc.)
• Various types of nerve injuries (brachial plexus, facial, brachial palsy, Erb’s palsy, phrenic, spinal cord

Birth injuries can be a result of a range of complications during your pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Listed below are the typically reported causes of birth injuries:

• Premature births
• Large birth weight (newborns over 8 pounds and 13 ounces)
• Cephalopelvic disproportion (mother has a relatively small pelvis)
• Difficult and/or long labor and delivery
• Breech baby

Do you think your newborn sustained birth injuries? Take a look at the early signs of birth injuries:

• Unusual skin tone and other physical features
• Breathing difficulty and low oxygen levels
• Slow heart rate
• Persistent and high-pitched crying
• Challenges in feeding (difficulty swallowing or suckling)
• Restricted movement
• Weak or absent reflexes

While some of these birth injuries are treatable, they may sometimes still lead to long-term health issues that the newborn has to live with.

Seek legal help for your birth injury claim

If your newborn sustained a birth injury, you may talk to an experienced lawyer to know your legal options. Depending on the specifics of your case, you might qualify for a claim and may be entitled to fair compensation.

The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary understands the difficulty of your situation. Our law firm is ready to provide legal guidance and assistance to parents who want to file a birth injury claim. You may contact us today for a free consultation and to have your case assessed.