When Push Turns to Pull It Can Lead to a Kentucky Forceps Injury

When pushing for an expectant mother turns to pulling for a doctor, serious birth injuries could occur to the newborn. Doctors tend to use forceps during difficult, strenuous childbirths to assist in the baby's birth; however, sometimes the force applied can be too extreme and the improper use of forceps can cause a birth injury.

When the shoulders of an infant gets caught on the mother's pubic bone, many doctors start pulling on the baby with forceps as the infant starts to exit the birth canal. If doctors aren't careful, they will cause a Kentucky forceps injury which could lead to the following:

• Skull fractures
• Brain injuries
• Eye injuries
• Broken clavicles and other bones
• Nerve damage and facial paralysis

When a doctor attempts to manually rotate the fetus and is unsuccessful, the doctor should perform a cesarean instead of continuing to use forceps. Doctors should also inform the expectant mother about the risks involved, especially the potential for the child to suffer a birth brain injury from the force of the forceps.

If misuse of forceps caused your infant to suffer a brain injury, skull fracture, or eye injury, let our Louisville childbirth injury lawyers help you through this difficult time. We can collect the necessary evidence to support your Kentucky birth injury claim, protect your interests, and fight for your family's justice and rights to recovery.

Call Gray and White Law at 800.634.8767 today for a free legal consultation, and start your family's road to recovery.