Birth Injuries in Florida Newborns Can Include Nerve Damage Leading to Erb's Palsy
When a woman goes into labor and enters her Florida hospital delivery room, it's supposed to be a joyous event. A new baby's arrival into the world is an exciting, heart-pounding time. However a carefree delivery, like the kind we see in TV and movie comedies, isn't the reality most women experience. Childbirth is a critical time for both the mother and the infant. The obstetrician's ability to assess the situation and use proper birthing techniques is extremely important for the birthing process to go smoothly and the baby to arrive healthy and uninjured.
An experienced Fort Lauderdale, Florida birth injury lawyer such as Attorney Debi Chalik knows from work representing clients that things can go wrong in the delivery room causing injury to the newborn.
Medical reference The Merck Manual writes, "Birth injury is damage sustained during the birthing process, usually occurring during transit through the birth canal." This situation may occur when the baby is large and the vaginal canal is too small for a safe delivery. A number of types of birthing injuries can occur when a woman delivers her baby at a Broward County or other South Florida hospital. These can include…
- Head and brain injury (including bleeding in the brain)
- Bone fractures
- Asphyxia (not enough oxygen)
- Damage to organs
- Injury to skin and soft tissues (but most birthmarks are not considered serious)
- Nerve damage
One type of nerve damage that can occur may affect the infant's ability to move his or her arm freely. This condition may begin when a birthing complication called a shoulder dystocia occurs -- when the baby's shoulder gets "stuck" inside the mother's birthing canal. If the delivering physician uses excessive force in attempting to free the infant's shoulder, the baby's neck can get stretched -- which may in turn cause damage to nerves that affect the mobility of the shoulder, neck, and arm.
This can lead to a condition known as Erb's Palsy or brachial plexus palsy or paralysis. Depending on the severity of the erbs palsy case, the infant may require surgery or physical therapy to regain mobility. Some estimates indicate that one of every 1,000 babies born experiences an Erbs palsy related injury.
As Erb's palsy injury attorneys in Broward County, Florida, we've worked with mothers and families who've found themselves and their infants in this predicament. The mother may notice early on after the baby is delivered that something is not right with the baby's arm -- that the baby's arm is not moving properly or freely. The physician and hospital staff may not inform the mother that something is wrong. This is why it's important to contact an experienced Fla. birth injury attorney if you suspect something is wrong with your newborn baby. The attorney can help you assess your situation and make sure your child gets the medical care and attention he or she deserves.
For more insights, please read Fort Lauderdale Birth Injury Attorney Debi Chalik's Q&A on what happens in a South Florida hospital when a birth injury leading to erb's palsy or paralysis occurs.
Related Florida Birth Injury Attorney Articles:
Neurological Injuries to Newborns -- Common Causes
Surgical Techniques to Repair Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries Studied
Source:
