Bringing a new baby into the world should be one of the happiest days for any family. While most births in Georgia go well, some infants suffer injuries that could have been avoided. When medical professionals make mistakes during labor or delivery, the results can change a child’s life forever. Knowing the causes of these injuries helps parents understand what went wrong and how to seek help.
Common Neurological and Brain Injuries
Brain injuries are among the most serious issues seen in Atlanta hospitals. These often happen when a baby does not get enough oxygen during the birthing process.
Cerebral Palsy from Oxygen Loss
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect how a child moves and maintains balance. It often occurs because of oxygen deprivation. This might happen if a doctor waits too long to perform a C-section or fails to notice that the baby is in distress. If the brain goes without air for even a short time, it can lead to permanent damage that affects muscle control for life.
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
HIE is another condition caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain. It can be triggered by problems with the umbilical cord or the placenta. When a delivery is very long and difficult, the risk for HIE goes up. This injury can cause long-term problems with how a child learns and grows.
Intracranial Hemorrhage
This term refers to bleeding inside the baby’s brain. It usually happens because of physical trauma during birth. If a doctor uses tools like vacuum extractors or forceps the wrong way, the pressure can cause blood vessels in the brain to burst. This type of bleeding is a major cause of permanent brain damage.
Physical Trauma and Nerve Damage
Sometimes the physical act of delivery causes direct harm to the baby’s body. These injuries often involve the nerves or bones.
Brachial Plexus and Erb’s Palsy
The brachial plexus is a set of nerves that connects the spine to the arms and hands. If a doctor pulls too hard on a baby’s head or shoulders during a vaginal birth, these nerves can stretch or tear. This leads to Erb’s palsy or Klumpke’s palsy. In many cases, the child may lose the ability to move their arm or hand.
Facial Nerve Paralysis
Pressure on a baby’s face during labor can damage the facial nerves. This often happens when forceps are used to help pull the baby out of the birth canal. The result is a loss of muscle movement in the face. While some cases heal on their own, others lead to permanent paralysis.
Bone Fractures
Even though babies have flexible bones, excessive force can cause breaks. The most common fracture seen in Georgia delivery rooms is a broken clavicle or collarbone. This often happens when the baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone, a situation known as shoulder dystocia.
Other Serious Delivery Complications
Beyond brain and nerve damage, there are other ways negligence leads to harm.
Pneumonitis Peritonitis
This condition occurs when a baby has a bowel movement while still inside the womb. If the baby breathes in or swallows that waste, it can cause a severe infection in the lungs or abdomen. Doctors must act quickly to clear the airway to prevent this serious injury.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord damage is rare but devastating. It usually happens when a healthcare provider uses improper techniques or too much force while pulling the baby. Depending on where the injury is, it can cause partial or total paralysis.
Wrongful Death
The most heartbreaking outcome of medical errors is the loss of a life. Negligence during childbirth can lead to the death of the newborn or the mother. Failing to monitor the baby’s heart rate or ignoring signs of a medical emergency are common reasons these tragedies occur.
External Causes of Injury
Not every birth injury starts in the delivery room. Sometimes a mother is involved in a car accident or a slip and fall that harms the unborn child. In other cases, dangerous drugs or defective medical devices might be the cause of the problem.
What to Do After a Birth Injury
Going through the aftermath of a birth injury is painful and confusing. Many families do not realize that their child’s condition was caused by a mistake until much later. If you believe your child was hurt because a hospital or doctor was negligent, you have the right to look for answers. Holding medical providers accountable helps make sure these errors do not happen to other families. Our team has decades of experience helping people in Atlanta deal with medical malpractice cases. You can reach Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC at 404-760-7400 to talk about your situation and learn about your options.