Chicago Birth Injury Lawyer - Article

Birth Injuries

Childbirth is one of the most difficult experiences a woman can go through. Even a relatively “normal” birth is a long and intense process. Unfortunately, many women face additional complications and risks during pregnancy and childbirth. In the US, a surprising 20% of pregnancies involve some elevated level of risk to the child or mother.

Causes of Birth Injuries

Sometimes these complications lead to a newborn being hurt during birth. These injuries can be mild and short-lived, such as bruising and swelling, or they can be far more serious. Common causes of injury during childbirth include:

• Breech (feet first) births
• Premature birth
• Prolonged labor
• Hospital practices, including the use of forceps

Sometimes a birth injury is the result of some health complication with the mother or fetus that could not be avoided. At other times, however, the behavior of hospital staff can exacerbate or cause injuries to newborns.

Long-Term Injuries

While most birth injuries are mild and heal within weeks. Unfortunately, this cannot always be the case. Some long-term complications can be caused by problems during childbirth include:

• Erb’s Palsy: If an infant’s arm is twisted or pulled during childbirth, it can do damage to the shoulder nerves resulting in Erb’s Palsy. This causes weakness in the affected arm, and may even cause full paralysis. Some children never gain full use of the affect arm.
• Cerebal Palsy: This is a serious chronic condition related to brain damage during birth. It can lead to paralysis and damaged nerve functioning. It is not progressive, meaning it does not become worse over time, but it is not curable either.

Contact the Chicago Birth Injury Lawyers

For more information about seeking compensation from negligent hospital staff, contact Chicago birth injury lawyers Friedman & Bonebrake at 312-466-8200.