When a child suffers some sort of birth injury, he or she may exhibit immediate symptoms, or signs may not appear until certain milestones are missed or developmental delays begin presenting themselves. As always, it is important to seek medical attention and to inform your doctor of any changes you notice in your child, but we can offer some insight regarding potential symptoms of birth injuries, and what to do if you notice these.
The following may be immediate signs of a birth injury:
- Difficulty nursing or swallowing
- Lethargy
- Light sensitivity
- Excessive fussiness with no apparent cause
- High-pitched crying
- Breathlessness
- Lethargy
- Difficulty sleeping or resting
- Poor weight gain
- Fever
- Low heart rate
- Low oxygen levels
- Muscle spasms or lack of muscle tone
Immediately after birth, the attending medical professionals should monitor and assess your baby using the Apgar scale. This uniform method offers a way to assess a newborn’s condition. Your baby’s Apgar score may be an indicator of whether a birth injury was sustained, but there are situations where an injury will only become evident at a later date, around 1 to 3 years of age. If you notice any problems, call your doctor immediately. Seek emergency care if your child is having trouble breathing or is showing any other serious signs of an injury or medical condition.
If your child is experiencing developmental delays or other health or mental problems, and you suspect that malpractice during labor or delivery may be the cause, we welcome you to call our offices to arrange a free consultation with one of our lawyers. We can review medical records, talk to you about what you experienced, and make our own evaluation of whether you may have a valid birth injury claim.
To get started, give us a call at 347-652-2885. Our birth injury lawyers serve all of Long Island, Queens, and all NYC boroughs and New York.
