What To Do if Your Baby Sustains a Birth Injury

Whether you are a first-time parent or welcoming another addition to your growing family, living with a newborn can be a stressful experience. That stress may spike if your little bundle of joy was injured during the birthing process.

What should you do if your baby sustains a birth injury? With adequate medical care and legal counsel, you and your family can get the help you need.

Know the Common Types of Birth Injuries

First, consider a few of the most common injuries babies sustain during childbirth. Many of these conditions go away with proper medical treatment, while others may affect the baby’s development moving forward. Does your newborn have one of the following conditions?

• Cephalohematoma (bleeding under the cranial bone)
• Caput succedaneum (a swollen patch of fluid on the scalp)
• Facial paralysis
• Cerebral palsy
• Brachial plexus injury
• Spinal cord injury

Consult With Your Pediatrician

When you and your baby’s doctor are aware of the birth injury, you can work to treat it. Your pediatrician may recommend physical or occupational therapy for some conditions, like cerebral palsy or brachial nerve damage.

Some of the conditions listed above, like cephalohematoma and caput succedaneum, often go away after a few weeks of medication and plenty of rest. Keep your pediatrician up to date on your baby’s condition and let them know if any complications arise as soon as possible.

Consult With an Attorney

If you are wondering who is responsible for your baby’s injury, talk to a lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice cases. Occasionally, birth injuries are caused by an obstetrician using excess force with surgical instruments to help the delivery along.

However, some conditions—like cerebral palsy—can originate during the baby’s development in utero. If you’re unsure how the injury occurred, tell your entire story to your lawyer. A good attorney can advise you of the validity of your case and recommend a plan for moving forward.

What can you do if your baby is injured during childbirth? Prioritize your little one’s well-being above all else. Stay in contact with your pediatrician to monitor your baby’s recovery. If you suspect that your obstetrician played a hand in the injury, tell your story to a talented attorney.