As a parent, it is devastating to learn that your child suffered from an injury at birth that will affect him or her permanently. Birth injuries are serious, and they can be both financially and emotionally devastating for an Illinois family.
One of the most common types of birth injuries are brachial plexus injuries. These most often occur during the birth process, and the results are serious damage for the baby. This type of injury affects the nerves around the shoulder, leading to mobility issues, loss of range of motion and permanent nerve damage. If your child suffered from this type of injury, you would have grounds to move forward with a civil claim.
What causes this type of birth injury?
While this type of injury can happen for many reasons, it often happens during the birthing process because of the following:
- The stretching of the infants shoulders that occurs during a head-first delivery
- The pressure on a baby’s arms during a breech delivery
- The neck and head of a baby pulling toward the side while the shoulder passes through the birthing canal
While mistakes happen, medical mistakes committed during a difficult delivery can be devastating for both a baby and the mother. There are ways to avoid this type of injury, and doctors and other care providers bear the responsibility of doing everything possible to eliminate problems during delivery.
Symptoms of a brachial plexus injury
It can be difficult to immediately ascertain the effect of a birth injury. In fact, you may not be entirely sure if your baby suffered a problem during birth or if any issues will be permanent. Some of the common symptoms of a brachial plexus injury include:
- No Moro reflex on one side of the baby
- No movement in the upper or lower arm or hand
- Decreased grip on one side
- Arm bent and held against the body
These are all signs that your baby experienced a serious shoulder injury during his or her birth. It is prudent to seek medical attention immediately as soon as you notice symptoms and seek an opinion regarding the possibility of a medical malpractice claim.
You may already know that something went awry during the birth of your child, and your family does not have to suffer alone. A doctor or other medical professional could be liable for the damage done to your baby, and you deserve compensation in order to provide your baby with necessary medical care and support.
