Understanding San Jose Birth Injury
What is a “birth injury”? The term is a broad one, and it generally refers to any injury that a baby suffers in the birth process, or just prior to being born. According to Stanford Medicine, it is important to keep in mind that some birth injuries can occur without any party being negligent. To be sure, some birth injuries are mild and occur regularly in the birth process. These are often injuries from which the infant recovers quickly and there is no permanent damage. Other types of birth injuries, however, can result from a health care provider’s negligence at a stage of the pregnancy or birth process.
Common types of birth injuries include but are not limited to:
- Brachial palsy or brachial plexus injury;
- Bruising on the head;
- Forcep marks on the face or head;
- Caput succedaneum, which is a swelling of the baby’s scalp;
- Cephalohematoma, or bleeding between the skull bone and the skull covering that typically presents as a lump on the head;
- Cerebral palsy;
- Epidural hematoma, or blood between the baby’s skull and dura mater;
- Facial paralysis;
- Clavicle fracture;
- Collarbone fracture;
- Skull fracture; and
- Subconjunctival hemorrhage, which refers to small blood vessels in the eyes breaking, and typically resolves itself.
Causes of Birth Injuries in San Jose
Birth injuries can result from a health care provider’s negligence. Examples of birth injuries causes where the health care provider’s negligence may have resulted in harm to your baby include but are not limited to:
- Health care provider’s improper or negligent use of forceps or vacuum extraction during the baby’s delivery;
- Oxygen deprivation during labor and delivery;
- Improper manipulation of the baby’s body during delivery;
- Failure to order an emergency cesarean section (c-section); and/or
- Prescribing certain medications during pregnancy.
Certain kinds of pregnancies or characteristics can make birth injuries more likely. When a pregnant patient has any of the conditions that are linked to birth injuries, it is critical for health care providers to take any additional steps to ensure the health of the baby and the mother. Even if the risk factor is not a result of any kind of negligence, a health care provider may be held accountable if they do not take additional measures to address the existent risk factor or factors. Common risk factors, according to Stanford Medicine, include the following:
- Large babies that weigh more than 8 pounds, 13 ounces;
- Premature babies, which usually means those born before 37 full weeks of pregnancy;
- Cephalopelvic disproportion, which is an issue with the size and shape of the mother’s pelvis, making vaginal delivery unsafe or risky;
- Dystocia, which means a difficult labor or childbirth;
- Prolonged labor, meaning labor that lasts for an extended period of time, usually 18 hours or more;
- Abnormal birthing presentation, such as a breech delivery where the feet or buttocks are positioned first rather than the baby’s head; and
- Maternal obesity.
Contact Our San Jose Birth Injury Lawyers
Was your child born with or recently diagnosed with a birth injury? That birth injury could be the result of medical negligence or another party’s negligence during the course of your pregnancy or childbirth. Depending on the severity of the injury and the outlook in your child’s case, it may be critical to begin the process of filing a claim to seek compensation for your child’s medical bills and other expenses. In addition to providing compensation for losses, a birth injury lawsuit can also allow you to hold the responsible party or parties accountable for the harm your child is experiencing. The advocates at Venardi Zurada LLP can speak with you today. Call 833-893-6763 or contact us online today for a free consultation.
