Childbirth is both exciting and scary, and sometimes, even when healthcare providers do the best they can, newborns may suffer injuries during delivery. This may happen even in cities like Cleveland, which is home to some of the top healthcare centers in the country.
Some of these injuries are minor and will heal on their own; others will continue to cause serious health consequences for the child, requiring treatments and continued care. A Cleveland birth injury lawyer can ensure you understand your rights and options if your newborn was injured at birth. Below we take a closer look at five of the most common birth injuries along with helpful information about how they occur.
Brachial Plexus Injury (Erb’s Palsy)
Brachial plexus injury occurs when the network of nerves controlling the baby’s arms is damaged, typically during a difficult or prolonged delivery. This injury is most common when the baby’s shoulders become stuck in the birth canal, a condition known as shoulder dystocia. When excessive force is used to pull the baby out, it can stretch or tear these nerves, leading to conditions like Erb’s Palsy, where the arm or hand may be paralyzed or have limited movement.
If the baby’s shoulder becomes lodged during delivery and the doctor uses excessive force to free it, it could result in a brachial plexus injury. In severe cases, the baby may be unable to move the affected arm, and ongoing therapy or surgery may be needed to restore function.
Fractures
The most common fracture in newborns is a clavicle (collarbone) fracture, which can occur when the baby’s shoulder is compressed during delivery, especially during breech births or when the baby is larger than average (macrosomia). This can happen if the delivery is difficult or assisted with tools like forceps or vacuum extraction. The baby’s bones are soft at birth, so they’re more susceptible to fractures under pressure.
In cases where the baby is large or the labor is particularly long, the doctor may need to apply force to help deliver the baby, which could cause a fracture to the clavicle. The injury is often not serious and heals quickly, but the baby may experience pain and require careful handling during the healing process.
Caput Succedaneum
Caput succedaneum is the swelling of the soft tissues of a newborn’s head, usually caused by the pressure of the birth canal during delivery. This condition is common in prolonged or difficult labor, particularly if the baby’s head has been pushing against the cervix for a long time.
The swelling is typically harmless and goes away on its own within a few days.
If a baby spends a long time in the birth canal or is delivered with the help of a vacuum, the pressure can cause swelling on the top of the head. This condition may cause the baby’s head to appear misshapen temporarily, but it generally resolves itself without treatment.
Cephalohematoma
Cephalohematoma occurs when there is bleeding between the baby’s skull and the protective layer covering the brain (periosteum) due to the pressure applied during delivery. It’s most often caused by the use of forceps or vacuum extraction. This condition is less common than caput succedaneum but can cause jaundice if the body takes longer to reabsorb the blood.
A baby delivered with forceps may develop cephalohematoma, where blood accumulates under the skin of the skull. Although the condition can look concerning, the blood generally reabsorbs within a few weeks. However, in some cases, the baby might need further treatment to ensure the condition does not lead to complications like jaundice.
Facial Paralysis
Facial paralysis occurs when pressure is applied to the baby’s face during delivery, especially when forceps or vacuum extractors are used. The pressure can damage the facial nerve, which controls the muscles of the face. This can result in temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face.
If forceps are used to assist in delivering a baby, the force applied to the baby’s face can cause the facial nerve to become compressed, leading to facial paralysis. This condition often resolves within a few weeks as the nerve heals, but in some cases, surgery may be required if the injury is more severe.