Kentucky Birth Injury Cases Are Often Caused by Negligence

After the birth of a child, you should be celebrating, not fretting about your child’s future. However, for parents with babies who sustain serious birth injuries, their feelings of joy are mixed with fears for their child’s health. Doctors, hospitals and nurses can make grave mistakes, which can lead to a devastating birth injury.

There are many possible reasons for a traumatic birth injury, which include:

• Prolonged labor
• Delayed C-section
• Large baby
• Breech delivery
• Prematurity
• Difficult labor

With the proper medical care, many of the risks associated with these conditions can be minimized to help avoid birth injury. Unfortunately, negligent doctors and medical providers are sometimes responsible for birth injuries. In those cases, they can be held accountable for their actions.

Some of the most common birth injuries are listed below:

• Caput succedaneum – This condition involves a severe swelling of the soft tissues on the baby’s scalp. It can occur when the baby travels through the birth canal and the odds of developing this condition increase with vacuum extraction. Usually the swelling will go down within a few days.

• Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy – This birth injury occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen and brain cells are damaged.

• Facial paralysis – Pressure on the baby’s face during labor can lead to a facial nerve injury. Forceps can also cause facial paralysis. Surgery may be required if the nerve was torn.

• Cerebral palsy – Cerebral palsy is a life altering condition and is caused by brain damage. The risk of developing this condition increases when the baby experiences a lack of oxygen, which can occur during the birthing process.

If your child has sustained a Kentucky birth injury, you need to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney in Louisville immediately at law office of Gray and White Law today at (502) 637-6000 or (800) 637-6033. We will be able to review your case to help you determine who is to blame for your child’s injury.