When getting ready for pregnancy, new mothers might worry about birth injuries. Understanding the most common types and their causes can help ease your mind and prepare you for what to expect if something goes wrong during childbirth.
Here’s a rundown of common birth injuries and how they happen:
**Erb’s Palsy**
Erb’s palsy happens when the group of nerves in the upper arm is damaged, leading to paralysis in the arm, since these nerves control movement and feeling. It often occurs due to shoulder dystocia, a typical issue during birth. Symptoms include one arm being weaker, reduced grip strength, numbness, or the arm being bent at the elbow.
If you think your baby’s injury was due to the medical care you received, consider contacting a birth injury solicitor. They can help you file a medical negligence claim or a complaint to the NHS to seek recognition and compensation.
**Caput Succedaneum**
This injury typically results from a tough birth or the use of certain delivery tools. It involves swelling of the scalp and bruising on the head, indicating damage during delivery. Membranes rupturing while the baby is still in the womb, which can happen from 31 weeks on, can also cause it. Fortunately, the swelling usually subsides quickly without long-term medical issues.
**Facial Paralysis (Bell’s Palsy)**
Facial paralysis occurs when pressure is applied to a facial nerve during delivery, causing difficulty in controlling facial muscles. This results in inflammation of the nerve, making one side of the face droop. It can be caused by a prolonged labor, a large baby, or certain medications used during birth.
**Cephalohematoma**
This condition is the collection of blood under the scalp, caused by burst blood vessels during a challenging delivery. Symptoms typically resolve within three months, though some cases improve within weeks. Cephalohematoma can be associated with the use of forceps; check the recent NHS guidelines if you have concerns about forceps during delivery.
**Subconjunctival Hemorrhage**
This minor bleeding in the eye occurs when tiny blood vessels rupture during delivery, causing a red spot on the white part of the baby’s eye. This condition usually clears up over time as the eye heals.
While birth injuries can be alarming, most of them are relatively minor and their symptoms fade within a few weeks. However, if your baby suffers a long-term injury due to the birth, seek advice from a solicitor on how to proceed with your complaint and any claims.