Birth injuries are sometimes preventable but can cost a family years or even decades of medical expenses. Pursuing legal aid can assist you in covering the costs of care, holding those responsible accountable, and preventing future families from suffering. If you’re in Chicago and seeking legal assistance for a birth injury case, consider contacting a reputable Chicago birth injury lawyer. Here, we will discuss types of birth injuries, their causes and why you need legal assistance.
Understanding Birth Injuries
A birth injury is any form of harm a newborn sustained before, during, or immediately following childbirth. Many newborns sustain minor injuries after delivery that do not require treatment and generally heal on their own in a matter of days or weeks. Some birth injuries can have long-term implications, rendering your child incapacitated for the rest of their lives.
Various Types Of Birth Injuries
Birth injuries can result from various risk factors and types of brain injury. The causes and symptoms may differ depending on the birth damage type.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a collection of conditions that affect the brain’s control of the nervous system and muscles. Cerebral palsy is caused by injury to the brain just before or during birth. This brain injury affects several parts of the body and does not improve or deteriorate over time, but it may result in further health concerns.
Cerebral palsy is incurable. Therapy, medicine, and surgery can improve your child’s quality of life. Depending on the severity of the disease, children may be able to live on their own or require permanent care.
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries impair the nerve connections that connect the brain to the rest of the body. Trauma to a particular portion of the spinal cord causes this birth damage. Injury severity might range from minor bruises to major spinal rupture. Spinal cord injuries are frequently the result of medical misconduct. A spinal cord injury can occur when a doctor uses vacuum extractors or forceps incorrectly and pulls or twists a squeezed newborn.
Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy is a brachial plexus injury resulting from shoulder dystocia nerve damage. During a difficult delivery, pulling on the kid might harm the network of nerves that carries signals from the spine to the hands, arms, and shoulders. As a result, the injured limb is used incorrectly.
Newborn jaundice
Jaundice is a highly prevalent illness affecting approximately 60% of newborns. Bilirubin accumulation is the cause of jaundice. This chemical can potentially turn the baby’s skin and eye whites yellow.
Most occurrences of jaundice are innocuous and treatable with light therapy to break down and remove bilirubin from the baby’s blood. In severe circumstances, a blood transfusion may be required. Children are more likely to develop jaundice if born before 38 weeks, have significant bruising before birth, have a distinct blood type from the mother, or have difficulty breastfeeding.
Birth Injuries And Their Causes
A birth injury is an injury to a newborn before, during, or immediately following the delivery process. Birth injuries can be transient, with symptoms lasting a few days to a few weeks. They may, however, be permanent, with severe symptoms lasting the child’s entire life.
The type and scope of the problem are determined by the conditions and factors that lead to birth damage. Maternal illnesses, infant problems, and external causes can all contribute to birth injuries of various severity. For example, denying oxygen to the newborn soon before birth might result in brain injury. Infants who sustain brain damage during birth are far more likely to develop permanent neurological difficulties.
On the other hand, a physician pulling on a child’s neck to hasten the delivery can injure the nerves that control the shoulder or arm, resulting in Erb’s palsy. Infants diagnosed with Erb’s palsy after delivery have a good prognosis since more than 80% of patients recover completely and regain full control of their affected arm.
Why Do I Need Legal Assistance for a Birth Injury?
When a child’s birth injury results from poor medical care, birth injury lawyers can assist you in obtaining compensation to cover your child’s medical expenses. Birth injuries may necessitate therapies, nursing and professional care, assistive equipment, and medications, which can be costly in the long run. A specialist law firm can analyze your case to improve your chances of receiving compensation and maximize your possible settlement.
Conclusion
Considering birth injury, legal assistance is essential to protect your child’s future and seek justice if medical negligence has led to a birth injury. Consult a Chicago birth injury lawyer if you’re looking for legal advice.
Comments are closed.